A Curse of Comparison? Evidence on Reference Groups for Relative Income Concerns

Kuegler, Alice

dc.creator	Kuegler, Alice
dc.date	2012-03-19T19:08:27Z
dc.date	2012-03-19T19:08:27Z
dc.date	2009-01-01
dc.date.accessioned	2023-02-17T21:07:45Z
dc.date.available	2023-02-17T21:07:45Z
dc.identifier	http://www-wds.worldbank.org/external/default/main?menuPK=64187510&pagePK=64193027&piPK=64187937&theSitePK=523679&menuPK=64187510&searchMenuPK=64187283&siteName=WDS&entityID=000158349_20090121165405
dc.identifier	http://hdl.handle.net/10986/4019
dc.identifier.uri	http://localhost:8080/xmlui/handle/CUHPOERS/244989
dc.description	This paper proposes that individuals care about the relative income of proximate reference groups. Making use of self-reported life satisfaction as a proxy for unobservable utility, the relative income of siblings is tested for relevance as a reference point for new sample data from Venezuela. Having greater perceived income than one's siblings is found to be positively linked to individual life satisfaction. This evidence supplements the scarce economic research on reference groups, supporting the hypothesis that individuals with proximate characteristics and resembling opportunities in life serve as points of comparison.
dc.language	English
dc.relation	Policy Research working paper ; no. WPS 4820
dc.rights	CC BY 3.0 IGO
dc.rights	http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/igo/
dc.rights	World Bank
dc.subject	ACCOUNTING
dc.subject	ADEQUATE INCOME
dc.subject	AGGREGATE DEMAND
dc.subject	ASYMMETRIC INFORMATION
dc.subject	AVERAGE INCOME
dc.subject	AVERAGE INCOMES
dc.subject	BASIC NEEDS
dc.subject	CHECKS
dc.subject	COMMODITIES
dc.subject	CONSUMER
dc.subject	CONSUMER BEHAVIOR
dc.subject	CONTRIBUTION
dc.subject	DECISION MAKING
dc.subject	DECREASING FUNCTION
dc.subject	DEMOCRACY
dc.subject	DEPENDENT VARIABLE
dc.subject	DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
dc.subject	DEVELOPMENT ECONOMICS
dc.subject	ECONOMETRIC ANALYSIS
dc.subject	ECONOMETRIC PROBLEMS
dc.subject	ECONOMIC GROWTH
dc.subject	ECONOMIC MODELS
dc.subject	ECONOMIC PERFORMANCE
dc.subject	ECONOMIC POLICY
dc.subject	ECONOMIC RESEARCH
dc.subject	ECONOMIC REVIEW
dc.subject	ECONOMIC SITUATION
dc.subject	ECONOMIC THEORY
dc.subject	EDUCATION PROGRAMS
dc.subject	EMPIRICAL ANALYSIS
dc.subject	EMPIRICAL EVIDENCE
dc.subject	EMPIRICAL FINDINGS
dc.subject	EMPIRICAL MODEL
dc.subject	EMPIRICAL STUDIES
dc.subject	EQUILIBRIUM LEVEL
dc.subject	EXPLANATORY VARIABLES
dc.subject	FINANCIAL SUPPORT
dc.subject	FUTURE INCOME
dc.subject	HOUSEHOLD SIZE
dc.subject	HOUSEWIFE
dc.subject	INCOME DATA
dc.subject	INCOME EFFECT
dc.subject	INCOME INCREASES
dc.subject	INCOME INEQUALITY
dc.subject	INCOME VARIABLES
dc.subject	INCOMES
dc.subject	INFLATION
dc.subject	JOB LOSS
dc.subject	LABOR SUPPLY
dc.subject	LACK OF KNOWLEDGE
dc.subject	LINEAR RELATIONSHIP
dc.subject	LITERACY
dc.subject	LIVING STANDARD
dc.subject	LIVING STANDARDS
dc.subject	LOSS AVERSION
dc.subject	LOW INCOME
dc.subject	MARGINAL PRODUCTS
dc.subject	MARKET ECONOMIES
dc.subject	MARRIED WOMEN
dc.subject	MEASUREMENT ERROR
dc.subject	MEASUREMENT ERRORS
dc.subject	MEDIAN INCOME
dc.subject	MEMBER COUNTRIES
dc.subject	MINIMUM WAGE
dc.subject	MONTHLY INCOME
dc.subject	NEGATIVE COEFFICIENT
dc.subject	NEGATIVE EFFECT
dc.subject	NEGATIVE EXTERNALITIES
dc.subject	NEGATIVE SIGN
dc.subject	OFFICE WORKERS
dc.subject	OIL PRODUCTION
dc.subject	PENSIONER
dc.subject	PER CAPITA INCOME
dc.subject	PERSONALITY TRAIT
dc.subject	POLICY IMPLICATIONS
dc.subject	POLICY RESEARCH
dc.subject	POLICY REVIEW
dc.subject	POLITICAL PARTICIPATION
dc.subject	POLITICAL STABILITY
dc.subject	POSITIVE COEFFICIENT
dc.subject	POSITIVE EFFECT
dc.subject	POSITIVE EFFECTS
dc.subject	POSITIVE EXTERNALITIES
dc.subject	POSITIVE RELATIONSHIP
dc.subject	POVERTY LEVELS
dc.subject	PROSPERITY
dc.subject	PUBLIC ECONOMICS
dc.subject	PUBLIC POLICY
dc.subject	QUESTIONNAIRE
dc.subject	REAL INCOME
dc.subject	REDISTRIBUTIVE TAXATION
dc.subject	REGRESSION ANALYSES
dc.subject	RELATIVE EARNINGS
dc.subject	RELATIVE INCOME
dc.subject	RELATIVE POSITION
dc.subject	RISK SHARING
dc.subject	RISK SHARING ARRANGEMENTS
dc.subject	SAMPLE SIZE
dc.subject	SAVINGS
dc.subject	SECONDARY EDUCATION
dc.subject	SECONDARY SCHOOL
dc.subject	SIGNIFICANT IMPACT
dc.subject	SOCIAL CAPITAL
dc.subject	SOCIAL INDICATORS
dc.subject	UNEMPLOYED
dc.subject	UNEMPLOYMENT
dc.subject	UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS
dc.subject	UTILITY FUNCTION
dc.subject	UTILITY FUNCTIONS
dc.subject	VOTERS
dc.subject	WEALTH
dc.title	A Curse of Comparison? Evidence on Reference Groups for Relative Income Concerns
dc.type	Publications & Research :: Policy Research Working Paper
dc.coverage	Latin America & Caribbean
dc.coverage	Latin America & Caribbean
dc.coverage	The World Region
dc.coverage	The World Region
dc.coverage	South America
dc.coverage	America