Comparing Happiness Determinants for Urban Residents

Research on happiness determinants began in the 1970s such fields as psychology and economics. While they tended to focus individual variables, have recently expanded built environment. Regarding environment, transportation systems—as opposed land use—were mostly studied relation transient of satisfaction from one trip rather than overall based life satisfaction. By controlling for well-researched (i.e., individual’s psychological economic variables), this study sought explore how especially system affect happiness. To aim, we used a partial least squares regression model with total 61 research variables tested it using data 2018 Seoul survey (n = 5,515 household heads). Through data, could evaluate environment cyclists pedestrians, taxi, subway, bus users. Based analytical results, concludes that promote happiness, government would do well implement marketing/branding strategies heighten identity of, attachment for, city increase pride its citizens feel calling their home), improve infrastructure better mobility accessibility (of motorized—rather nonmotorized—transportation, particularly taxis buses). Between nonmotorized transport methods, pedestrian is more important urban centers residential neighborhoods, cycling largely considered less significant. These happiness-related findings systems stand contrast those studies single trip.