Topic:Negative Human Capital Externalities in Wellbeing: Evidence from Chinese Cities

Speaker: Qian Haifeng

Abstract:This paper examines the impact of the concentration of human capital on individual happiness in Chinese cities. We find negative human capital externalities in the wellbeing of Chinese city residents. Further, wage, public service, firm agglomeration, environmental quality, and housing price are among the mechanisms connecting human capital to individual happiness. Human capital becomes a stronger negative predictor of individual happiness after these mediating effects are controlled for, likely as a result of peer pressure from social comparison. Additionally, the impact of city-level human capital externalities on individual happiness depends on individual factors such as gender, education, age, and income.

Date: June 12, 2019

Time:12:10-13:30