Exploring the relationship between happiness, objective and subjective well-being: Evidence from rural Thailand

This paper approaches well-being from the two distinct perspectives of the Subjective and Objective wellbeing traditions. Drawing from Thai data collected in rural communities through the Resources and Needs Questionnaire (RANQ), the paper analyses the relationship between objective indicators of basic need satisfaction (following Doyal and Gough, 1991) and global happiness and domains satisfaction. Objective indicators of basic need satisfaction such as food shortages, chronic ill health and wealth have a significant impact on household happiness and domain satisfaction in Thailand, although with some variation across regions. Perceptions of the economic position of the household in comparison with the rest of the community come up as a key determinant of happiness and domain satisfaction. The analysis [email protected] , [email protected]. The support of the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) is grateful acknowledged. The work is part of the programme of the ESRC Research Group on Wellbeing in Developing Countries. We are also grateful to Laura Camfield, Li Yunjie and Tom Lavers for their contribution at different stages of this paper. 2 Cited in Jongudomkarn (2004) Phase 1 Quality of Life Pilot Study. WeD Working Paper