Others' Happiness: New Evidence from Four Asian Countries

If individual pursuit of happiness forced others' happiness to lower, happiness would not be a good concept to evaluate the progress of a society. We can call the society a “selfish happiness society”. However, if happiness is more interpersonal, the balance between pursuit of individual happiness and other person's happiness may make society lead good direction. In particular, we now face many issues related to sustainability. Balance between economy, society, and environment and balance between current generation and future generations are keys for our survival. We can call the society a “social happiness society”. Thus, the concept of “social happiness” is much more important in our society. However, effect of a person's perception about her own happiness and others' happiness on her happiness is not clear. Therefore, it is worthwhile for us to explore if a person who takes care of or pays attention to others' happiness is happier. I analyzed the relationship by using a survey in Japan and confirmed that other person's happiness makes us happy (Takahashi, 2012).

Similar to the survey in Japan, surveys conducted in Thailand and Philippines in 2013 included questions about general happiness and interpersonal happiness. Using these dataset, the author can test this interrelationship between individual happiness and other person's happiness.

Even after controlling other important factors such as age, income, job and marital status, persons who reported that those around her were happy and she made those who were most important to her happy are happier than others. From the result, the author can conclude that other person's happiness makes us happy at least in Asian countries.