About the project

Title:

Different ways to better life: international comparisons of life satisfaction determinants over time

Keywords:

life satisfaction, transition process, post-communism, Central and Eastern Europe, causal analysis, multilevel analysis

Calendar:

October 2011-December 2013

Project summary:

The project intends to examine and compare several mechanisms that influence satisfaction with life across European societies. These societies are characterized by different economic development levels and by different types of socio-political organization. My goal is to underline the differences between the ex-communist countries and the rest of European societies, controlling for the predictors from validated theories in the field. This project will contribute to the theoretical debate regarding the applicability of the so-called Western theories to the Eastern countries quality of life mechanisms. The study will also analyze the impact that different elements of transition, such as hanging social policy, had on subjective well-being in ex-communist countries. A third contribution of the study consists of identifying the impact that ‘harsh periods’, like the recent economical crisis, have on life satisfaction in European countries.

Director:

Marian Vasile, PhD (vasile.marian@gmail.com)