1. Exploring the determinants of happiness: Evidence from rural Thailand and rural Ethiopia Monica Guillen Royo and Jackeline Velazco

2. Exploring the determinants of happiness: Evidence from rural Thailand and rural Ethiopia OVERVIEW Introduction Determinants of happiness Basic needs in rural Thailand and Ethiopia The empirical model Results Concluding remarks

3. INTRODUCTION Paper objective: Explore role played by basic needs, demographic and social factors in explaining happiness in rural Thailand and Ethiopia. Theoretical framework: Theory of human needs developed by Doyal and Gough (1991) Primary Sources: Household data collected as part of Wed Research Group, Bath University –924 rural households in Ethiopia –922 rural households in Thailand

5. Exploring the determinants of happiness: Evidence from rural Thailand and rural Ethiopia

9. THE EMPIRICAL MODEL Modelling individual perceptions Probit model: Choice between two discrete alternatives. Happy/unhappy.

10. THE EMPIRICAL MODEL What are the Determinants of Happiness in rural Thailand and Ethiopia? Household head Characteristics Age Sex Marital status Religion Education Employment status Household Characteristics Family size Number of children Basic Needs/assets Access to housing facilities Access to education facilities Access to health care facilities Wealth (asset index) Food shortage shocks Perception Variables Household wealth compared with village: poor, average and rich Household income five years ago: better, same and worse Social Resources Households take part in organisations Household members made visits outside The community Household uses mass media to be informed

11. RESULTS: DETERMINATS OF GLOBAL HAPPINESS IN RURAL THAILAND AND ETHIOPIA

12. Exploring the determinants of happiness: Evidence from rural Thailand and rural Ethiopia CONCLUDING REMARKS When basic needs are not met happiness is generally reduced. Material wealth/resources positive impact on happiness Perception variables important determining factor There was significant variation across country on the role of education Need for further work exploring the meaning of the causal relationships