Migration ‘does not bring happiness’
September 1st, 2010 - 1:12 pm ICT by ANIWashington, Sep 01 (ANI): A new study by a sociologist has suggested that economic migrants seeking a ‘better life’ might end up being less happy.
The grass might not be greener on the other side of the border, the study from the University of Leicester has found.
Economic migrants traveling to different shores for greater income could be set for disappointment - because the pursuit of wealth does not equate with happiness, suggests the research.
Sociologist Dr David Bartram sought to establish whether those people who were motivated by higher incomes in a wealthy country actually gain greater happiness via migration.
He also examined whether these economic migrants might have exaggerated expectations about what they will achieve and experience, such that there is some significant disappointment.
Dr Bartram, of the Department of Sociology, said: “The study of happiness tells us that people generally do not gain greater happiness from earning higher incomes - which suggests that migrants might be mistaken in believing that they will be better off if they can move to a wealthy country.”
The research examined responses from 1400 people in the World Values Survey (existing survey data).
Sociologist Dr David Bartram carried out the study: “Economic Migration and Happiness: Comparing Immigrants’ and Natives’ Happiness Gains from Income.”
It has been published by Social Indicators Research online on 27th August and will be printed next year. (ANI)
- Study reveals that debt boosts self-esteem in young - Jun 08, 2011
- Indian sociology is distinguished: Ansari - Dec 11, 2011
- Jobless men 'at greater risk of dying prematurely' - Apr 05, 2011
- Men living in low-income neighborhoods 'drink more than women' - Mar 04, 2011
- Flexible workplace schedule reduces work-family conflict - Apr 07, 2011
- Scientists find enzyme family that plays crucial role in regulating cell motility - Mar 19, 2011
- Money really can't buy happiness - in the long-term at least - Dec 14, 2010
- Breadwinning dads scared to ask bosses to cut working hours: Oz study - Sep 05, 2010
- Countries with high defence spending better to withstand financial impact: Report - Jun 18, 2010
- Economically dependent men more likely to cheat - Aug 17, 2010
- Beauty can buy both money and happiness - Apr 01, 2011
- Losing a job increases risk of dying prematurely - Apr 05, 2011
- Human symbolic behaviour much older than previously thought - Apr 25, 2010
- Intelligence, not status, fast tracks upward mobility - Mar 30, 2012
- Undetected high blood pressure 'ups deaths from heart attacks' - Nov 10, 2010
Tags: better life, david bartram, department of sociology, different shores, disappointment, dr david, economic migrants, economic migration, grass, happiness, immigrants, incomes, natives, social indicators research, sociologist, survey data, university of leicester, wealthy country, world values survey