Foundations of Quantitative Happiness: Economic Growth vs Life Satisfaction

Weisheng Zhou · Xiangwei Lin · Xuepeng Qian

2025년 1월 · Springer Nature

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This book is a rarity in that it conducts a comparative study of life satisfaction between Japan and China over a wider area and time period, filling a gap in empirical research on life satisfaction. Unlike many other countries that have focused primarily on the pursuit of economic prosperity, this study objectively examines the relationship between economic growth and life satisfaction. This study examines various aspects of the proportion of individuals who report being satisfied with their lives, including time series and single-year comparisons, as well as the level and rate of economic growth. This study conducted independent questionnaire surveys in China and Japan, analyzed the impact of absolute income and relative income on life satisfaction, and then objectively examined and compared life satisfaction in China and Japan. Furthermore, this study proposes that real disposable income exceeding $8,000 is an important signal of a shift in the pursuit of "spiritual wealth" from an emphasis on "material wealth" among the Chinese and Japanese. In particular, questionnaire surveys, one for all of Japan and one specifically for Kyoto City, were conducted on the impact of the global pandemic COVID-19 on life satisfaction, and it was found that the original "US$8,000" line has risen to "US$15,000". This study not only enriches the understanding of the relationship between economic growth, COVID-19 and life satisfaction, but also provides a new perspective for policy making.

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ZHOU Weisheng, Ph.D., Professor of College of Policy Science, Ritsumeikan University.Prof. Zhou graduated from Zhejiang University and received his Ph.D. from the Graduate School of Kyoto University. He has served as chief researcher and research advisor of the Research Institute of Innovative Technology for the Earth (RITE), a special professor of Osaka University. His books include "East Asian Low-Carbon Community" (Springer, 2021), "Studies on Sustainability in the SDGs Era" (Hōritsu Bunka Shuppan, 2022), "Nuclear Power Safety and Governance in East Asia" (Routledge, 2023), "Creep-Fatigue Fracture:Analysis of Internal Damage" (Springer, 2024), and others. Prof. Zhou analyzes and evaluates various economic, social, and technological policies that contribute to economic development, stable energy supply, and environmental protection. By seeking optimal environmental strategies that take into account equity, efficiency, and regional characteristics, he links his research to international recommendations for sustainable development and the realization of a broad low-carbon society. He also conducts quantitative evaluations related to economic growth and life satisfaction. His research interests include energy systems, environmental economics and policy, policy engineering, and sustainability science. He is a Foreign Fellow of the Engineering Academy of Japan (EAJ).

LIN Xiangwei, Ph.D., Research Fellow, Research Institute of Global 3E.Dr. Lin graduated from Ritsumeikan University, majoring in life satisfaction and political science. Based on theoretical and empirical research on life satisfaction, Dr. Lin conducts research to clarify the relationship between economic growth and life satisfaction in Japan and China, as well as the determinants of life satisfaction. Based mainly on an interdisciplinary perspective such as statistics, economics, and sociology, Dr. Lin quantitatively analyzes the determining factors of life satisfaction using probit analysis, principal component analysis, structural equation modeling, and path diagrams, and conducts empirical analysis of the relationship between life satisfaction and economic growth and its determining factors.

QIAN Xuepeng, Ph.D., Professor of the Graduate School of Global Environmental Studies, Sophia University. Prof. Qian received his Ph.D. degree from the Department of Environmental Systems Engineering of Ritsumeikan University in 2007, and worked as a lecturer in the same department, then as an assistant and associate professor in Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University from 2010 to 2021 before his current position. Dr. Qian specializes in urban environmental planning. He has worked on urban and environmental issues such as urban development, transportation, resource sustainability, water, energy, and low carbon through interdisciplinary and systems approaches. His research interests focus on exploring the visions of urban and regional sustainability, and how to plan and promote transformations for sustainable development. Dr. Qian has published more than 80 papers in English and Japanese journals and served as guest editor for several international journals.