Observatoire
Le Bien-être en France, Rapport 2024
Ce cinquième rapport annuel s’ouvre sur un hommage à Richard Easterlin, père fondateur de l’économie du bonheur, disparu en décembre 2024.
Si les Jeux Olympiques ont offert une parenthèse de bonheur collectif en 2024, le bien-être des Français est globalement resté stable sur l’année, avec une inquiétude croissante pour l’avenir. Or, la baisse de la satisfaction de vie et de la confiance sociale nourrissent la polarisation politique des opinions et des votes, en France comme chez nos voisins européens et américains. Nous relevons aussi une montée spectaculaire des émotions, notamment de la colère, dans le débat public, aussi bien l’Assemblée nationale que sur les réseaux sociaux.
Plusieurs groupes sociaux font l’objet d’analyses spécifiques. Les lycéens d’abord, qui manifestent une forte aspiration à la mobilité mais aussi une forte éco-anxiété. Ensuite, les élèves de classes préparatoires, aussi heureux que leurs pairs, malgré un stress important, et qui valorisent fortement leur formation. Enfin, les jeunes actifs, dont les aspirations professionnelles se révèlent remarquablement proches de celles de leurs aînés, le salaire demeurant la première préoccupation à travers les générations. Les enseignants, quant à eux, s’ils sont fortement insatisfaits de leur rémunération, ont également le sentiment d’être peu respectés, tant par la société en général que par leur propre administration. Enfin, les femmes manifestent une inquiétude particulière face à l’avenir, que leur niveau de revenu n’explique pas entièrement.
Au-delà des facteurs économiques, ce rapport souligne l’impact positif du contact avec la nature sur le bien-être, ainsi que l’influence complexe de l’environnement sonore, au-delà de la simple dichotomie bruit/silence.
Perona, Mathieu, et Claudia Senik. « Le Bien-être en France, Rapport 2024 ». Paris: Observatoire du bien-être, Cepremap, mars 2024. https://www.cepremap.fr/publications/le-bien-etre-en-france-rapport-2024/.
Un fossé idéologique grandissant entre jeunes femmes et jeunes hommes en France
Cette étude met en évidence un nouveau clivage idéologique au sein des jeunes générations. Tandis que les jeunes femmes adoptent des positions plus progressistes, notamment sur l’immigration, les minorités et l’égalité des sexes, les jeunes hommes s’orientent davantage vers des idées conservatrices.
L’écart grandissant entre jeunes femmes et jeunes hommes en matière de satisfaction de vie et de confiance envers autrui éclaire les raisons profondes de ce fossé grandissant. Tandis que la satisfaction des jeunes femmes diminue, portée par une prise de conscience accrue des discriminations et inégalités depuis #MeToo, la méfiance interpersonnelle s’intensifie chez les jeunes hommes, ce qui favorise leur basculement vers des valeurs plus conservatrices.
Ce clivage générationnel et genré pose un enjeu politique et social majeur : comment reconstruire un dialogue dans une jeunesse dont les trajectoires idéologiques et les votes semblent de plus en plus opposés ?
Algan, Yann, et Eugénie De Laubier. « Un fossé idéologique grandissant entre jeunes femmes et jeunes hommes en France ». Notes de l’Observatoire du bien-être. Paris: Cepremap, 24 mars 2025. https://www.cepremap.fr/2025/03/un-fosse-ideologique-grandissant-entre-jeunes-femmes-et-jeunes-hommes-en-france/.
La double peine de la dépression postpartum
La dépression post-partum touche environ 17% des mères françaises, avec des conséquences durables sur toute la famille. Cette note résume une étude co-écrite par un membre de l’Observatoire, fondée sur des données de santé mentale issues d’un programme de visites d’infirmières à domicile au Danemark, et propose une mise en perspective avec le contexte français. Elle révèle qu’au Danemark, la dépression post-partum réduit la probabilité d’emploi des mères et diminue le temps de travail des pères. Les enfants de mères dépressives présentent un risque accru d’hospitalisation durant la première année et potentiellement des retards de développement socio-émotionnel. Néanmoins, le dépistage précoce de la dépression maternelle au Danemark favorise une meilleure orientation des mères vers des soins adaptés. La comparaison entre les systèmes danois et français met en lumière des différences structurelles, notamment en termes d’unification du suivi postnatal et de durée d’accompagnement, qui pourraient inspirer des améliorations dans le système français.
Fréget, Louis. « La double peine de la dépression postpartum : Leçons du dispositif danois de détection de la dépression post-partum ». Notes de l’Observatoire du bien-être. Paris: Cepremap, 26 mars 2025. https://www.cepremap.fr/2025/03/la-double-peine-de-la-depression-postpartum/.
Insatisfaction, défiance et crise politique
Nous montrons que le déclin du bonheur et de la confiance sociale en Europe et aux États-Unis explique une grande partie de la montée de la polarisation politique et des votes anti-système.
Les attitudes subjectives telles que la satisfaction de vie et la confiance jouent un rôle beaucoup plus important dans la formation des valeurs et du comportement électoral que les idéologies traditionnelles ou la lutte des classes.
Tout d’abord, le déclin de la satisfaction de vie explique la montée des votes anti-système. Mais ensuite intervient la confiance envers les autres : parmi les personnes malheureuses qui sont attirées par les extrêmes du spectre politique, les personnes ayant une faible confiance sociale se retrouvent plus souvent à l’extrême droite, tandis que celles ayant une confiance élevée tendent davantage à voter pour l’extrême gauche.
Algan, Yann, Corin Blanc, et Claudia Senik. « Insatisfaction, défiance et crise politique ». Notes de l’Observatoire du bien-être. Paris: Cepremap, 20 mars 2025. https://www.cepremap.fr/2025/02/insatisfaction-defiance-et-crise-politique/.
Cette Note est une version française de notre contribution au World Happiness Report 2025 :
Algan, Yann, Corin Blanc, et Claudia Senik. « Trusting others: How unhappiness and social distrust explain populism ». In World Happiness Report 2025, par John Helliwell, Richard Layard, Jeffrey D. Sachs, J.-E. De Neve, Lara B. Aknin, et S. Wang. Oxford: University of Oxford: Wellbeing Research Centre, 2025. https://doi.org/10.18724/whr-hhje-y762.
Le Bien-être des Français, Mars 2025
Les grands indicateurs du bien-être subjectif sont orientés à la hausse en mars : satisfaction dans la vie, bonheur, sens, travail et équilibre des temps de vie atteignent des niveaux élevés. La perception de l’avenir individuel s’améliore elle aussi, mais partant d’un niveau plus faible, tandis que l’appréciation de l’avenir collectif, celui de la prochaine génération, reste dégradée.
Perona, Mathieu. « Le Bien-être des Français, Mars 2025 ». Notes de l’Observatoire du bien-être. Paris: Cepremap, 1 avril 2025. https://www.cepremap.fr/2025/04/le-bien-etre-des-francais-mars-2025/.
Recrutement : assistante / assistant de recherche
Nous recrutons pour la rentrée de Septembre prochain deux assistantes / assistants de recherche pour l’Observatoire du bien-être. Ce poste est destiné en priorité aux étudiantes et étudiants en fin de M2. N’hésitez pas à diffuser l’annonce !
Pour en savoir plus :
https://www.cepremap.fr/2025/03/recrutement-assistante-assistant-de-recherche-a-lobservatoire-du-bien-etre/
Sur le web
The Mental Health of the Young in Asia and the Middle East: The Importance of Self-Reports
Abstract: We examine the age profile of subjective wellbeing and illbeing in nine Asian countries (Bangladesh, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Pakistan, Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka) and seven Middle Eastern countries (Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Yemen). We find the relationship between age and reported wellbeing differs according to the way the survey is conducted. In the Gallup World Poll, where the data are collected by interviewers face-to-face or by telephone (computer-aided telephone interviews, or CATI) the young are the happiest and the results are the same across the two survey modes. We find the same result in CATI surveys in the Global Flourishing Survey (GFS) of 2022-2024 in 7 Asian and Middle Eastern (AME) countries. However, when the GFS survey is conducted on the web (computer-aided web interview, or CAWI) wellbeing is u-shaped in age, and is highest among the oldest respondents. If we turn to negative affect measures (loneliness, anxiety, depression, worry) these rise with age using CATI but fall with age using CAWI. We look for survey mode switching in the age coefficient across 40 outcomes. In general, the switch is confined to subjective wellbeing and illbeing metrics. Switching does not occur when respondents are asked about their physical health, bodily pain, unemployment status, drinking and smoking, or personality-related questions. It appears that the mode effect is largely confined to how individuals rate their subjective wellbeing and illbeing. The results are suggestive of social desirability response bias which leads young people to under-report socially undesirable affective states to interviewers.
Blanchflower, David G., et Alex Bryson. « The Mental Health of the Young in Asia and the Middle East: The Importance of Self-Reports ». SSRN Scholarly Paper. Rochester, NY: Social Science Research Network, 1 février 2025. https://papers.ssrn.com/abstract=5140721.
The Structural Transformation of the Public Space: High-Street Changes and Populism
Abstract: The high street serves more than a commercial function. It is the heart of a community. Some of the outlets that line our streets play an important social role, they are third places, communal places beyond work and home. We proxy third places with independent consumer outlets and study how their presence affects the electoral fortune of the UK Independent Party (UKIP), the main populist party in England in our time period (2011-19). Employing both a panel approach and an IV strategy, we find that a decrease in the number of independent consumer outlets yields an increase in the vote share of UKIP. Additional tests indicate that this electoral effect is due in part to the social role played by independent consumer outlets and that the phenomenon we study is distinct from previous cultural explanations for the rise of populists. Analyses of survey data suggest that residential sorting is unlikely to be the main driver behind our electoral results, whereas a loss of social capital in communities where third places disappear is a more plausible mechanism.
Wolton, S. et al. (2025) The Structural Transformation of the Public Space: High-Street Changes and Populism. DP19932. Paris & London: CEPR Press. Available at: https://cepr.org/publications/dp19932.
Value, Values, and the Role of Awareness
Abstract: Economists recently have pointed to a critical disconnect between economic value and ethical values as a key societal issue. Using a survey of 2,000 German households this paper reveals a misalignment between earnings and the values attributed to professions. Households prioritize professions addressing basic needs and benefiting society and nature over those offering personal utility, high remuneration, or economic growth, highlighting the importance of ethical considerations. This paper argues that values require a solid foundation rather than mere discussion or imposition. Linking values (and value) to awareness, it shows that more aware (along with more educated and informed) households favor professions supporting ethical values such as societal and environmental contributions, creativity, and beauty. Lastly, 60% of households support shifting societal values toward shared responsibility, though responses vary across households.
Eickmeier, S. (2025) Value, Values, and the Role of Awareness. DP19948. Paris & London: CEPR Press. Available at: https://cepr.org/publications/dp19948.
Social Capital in the United Kingdom: Evidence from Six Billion Friendships
Abstract: Social capital is widely believed to impact a wide range of outcomes including subjective well-being, social mobility, and community health. We aggregate data on over 20 million Facebook users in the United Kingdom to construct several measures of social capital including cross-type connectedness, social network clustering, and civic engagement and volunteering. We find that social networks in the UK bridge class divides, with people below the median of the socioeconomic status distribution (low-SES people) having about half (47%) of their friendships with people above the median (high-SES people). Despite the presence of these cross-cutting friendships, we find evidence of homophily by class: high-SES people have a 28% higher share of high-SES friends. In part, this gap is due to the fact that high-SES individuals live in neighbourhoods, attend schools, and participate in groups that are wealthier on average. However, up to two thirds of the gap is due to the fact that high-SES people are more likely to befriend other high-SES peers, even within a given setting. Cross-class connections vary by region but are positively associated with upward income mobility: low-SES children who grew up in the top 10% most economically connected local authorities in England earn 38% more per year on average (£5,100) as adults relative to low-SES children in the bottom 10% local authorities. The relationship between upward mobility and connectedness is robust to controlling for other measures of social connection and neighbourhood measures of income, education, and health. We also connect measures of subjective well-being and related concepts with individual social capital measures. We find that individuals with more connections to high-SES people and more tightly-knit social networks report higher levels of happiness, trust, and lower feelings of isolation and social disconnection. We make our aggregated social capital metrics publicly available on the Humanitarian Data Exchange to support future research.
Harris, Tom, Shankar Iyer, Tom Rutter, Guanghua Chi, Drew Johnston, Patrick Lam, Lucy Makinson, et al. « Social Capital in the United Kingdom: Evidence from Six Billion Friendships ». OSF, 23 mars 2025. https://doi.org/10.31235/osf.io/kb7dy_v1.
‘Kinlessness’, social connectedness, and subjective well-being in Europe
Abstract
Objectives
This study examines the association between family structure and subjective well-being by focusing on the moderating effects of social connectedness across genders and country contexts. We compare the well-being of older adults across four family types: those with both a partner and children, those with a partner but not children, those with children but no partner, and those without a partner and children (‘kinless’).
Methods
We use data from six waves of the European Social Survey (2012-2024) and estimate ordered logistic regression models of happiness and life satisfaction among middle-aged and older Europeans aged 50-104 (62,687 men and 73,323 women). We include interactions in the analysis to test whether social connectedness mitigates the well-being differences between kinless adults and partnered parents.
Results
The results show that middle-aged and older adults, especially men, without a partner exhibit lower levels of happiness and life satisfaction compared to their partnered counterparts, regardless of the absence of children. The subjective well-being gap between partnered and unpartnered men diminishes according to their level of social connectedness, a moderating effect primarily observed in Nordic and Western European countries.
Discussion
Contrary to the notion that ‘kinlessness’ leads to ageing alone, middle-aged and older men in less family-centered countries are able to alleviate the detrimental impact of partnerlessness on subjective well-being through increased social connectedness. In contrast, in countries where family ties are more emphasized, particularly in Eastern Europe, un-partnered adults face greater well-being challenges that are harder to offset with social connectedness.
Tosi, Marco, et Thijs Van den Broek. « ‘Kinlessness’, social connectedness, and subjective well-being in Europe ». The Journals of Gerontology: Series B, 21 mars 2025, gbaf055. https://doi.org/10.1093/geronb/gbaf055.
Does inequality undermine life satisfaction? Effective identification of country-level controls for a longitudinal investigation
Abstract: Does increased economic inequality undermine people’s subjective well-being (SWB)? Longitudinal analyses ostensibly offer a good foundation for results that can be interpreted in causal terms, because the analytical design controls for time-constant differences between countries. But researchers must still consider what controls to include for time-varying variables. Researchers engaged with this topic generally focus their attention on controls for individual-level determinants of SWB. I argue (in part by pointing to results in previous research) that individual-level controls are not important for this question—instead, what is needed is more careful attention to the identification of time-varying country-level controls. A more plausible set of decisions leads to a more extensive set of country-level controls. Applying that perspective to an analysis of relatively wealthy countries during the period 1990 to 2019, one main finding is that the overall negative impact of economic inequality on life satisfaction is much smaller than what is evident in previous research. But there are important differences for income groups. The negative impact on lower earners is larger than the overall result. For higher earners rising income inequality leads to increased life satisfaction—a striking result that contrasts with previous research.
Bartram, David. « Does inequality undermine life satisfaction? Effective identification of country-level controls for a longitudinal investigation ». European Sociological Review, 26 mars 2025, jcaf014. https://doi.org/10.1093/esr/jcaf014.
AI and the Extended Workday: Productivity, Contracting Efficiency, and Distribution of Rents
Abstract: This study investigates how occupational AI exposure impacts employment at the intensive margin, i.e., the length of workdays and the allocation of time between work and leisure. Drawing on individual-level time diary data from 2004-2023, we find that higher AI exposure-whether stemming from the ChatGPT shock or broader AI evolution-is associated with longer work hours and reduced leisure time, primarily due to AI complementing human labor rather than replacing it. This effect is particularly pronounced in contexts where AI significantly enhances marginal productivity and monitoring efficiency. It is further amplified in competitive labor and product markets, where workers have limited bargaining power to retain the benefits of productivity gains, which are often captured by consumers or firms instead. The findings question the expectation that technological advancements alleviate human labor burdens, revealing instead a paradox where such progresses compromise work-life balance.
Jiang, Wei and Park, Junyoung and Xiao, Rachel J. and Zhang, Shen, AI and the Extended Workday: Productivity, Contracting Efficiency, and Distribution of Rents (January 29, 2025). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=5119118 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.5119118
The welfare effects of time reallocation: evidence from Daylight Saving Time
Abstract: Daylight Saving Time (DST) is a widely adopted practice implemented by over 70 countries to align sunlight with day-to-day activities and reduce energy demands. However, we do not have a clear knowledge of how it affects individuals’ welfare. Using a regression discontinuity combined with a difference-in-differences design, we find that the Spring DST transition causes a significant decline in life satisfaction. By inducing a reallocation of time, the transition into DST deteriorates sleep quality and increases time stress, which in turn affects physical and emotional health. Using an event study approach, we find that such effects persist for about six days after the DST transition. Conversely, we provide evidence that the Autumn DST transition gives rise to a significant increase in life satisfaction. Finally, using a simple cost-benefit analysis, we discuss the potential benefits of ending DST.
Costa-Font, Joan, Sarah Fleche, et Ricardo Pagan. « The Welfare Effects of Time Reallocation: Evidence from Daylight Saving Time ». Economica 91, no 362 (2024): 547‑68. https://doi.org/10.1111/ecca.12510.
Detach to Thrive: Psychological Detachment from Work and Employee Well-Being
Abstract: Psychological detachment from work implies mentally disconnecting from work during off-job time. Using representative longitudinal data from the German Socio-Economic Panel, we identify psychological detachment from work as a key driver of employee well-being. This finding holds for a broad set of well-being indicators, including emotional responses, job satisfaction, life domain satisfactions, and global life satisfaction. Importantly, heterogeneity analyses reveal that detachment affects different subgroups of employees to a similar extent, indicating that the impact of detachment on employee well-being is universal. We further find that detachment mattered for employee well-being before as well as during the Covid-19 pandemic. Overall, organizations and policy makers could foster psychological detachment to increase employee well-being. Given that employees nowadays search for happiness at work, ensuring psychological detachment becomes also relevant in the war for talent.
Baktash, Mehrzad B., et Lisa Pütz. « Detach to Thrive: Psychological Detachment from Work and Employee Well-Being ». Journal of Happiness Studies 26, no 4 (29 mars 2025): 54. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10902-025-00883-7.
Friends make us happy: evidence from three European panel studies
Abstract: Most studies regarding the effect of social capital on subjective well-being suggest that having friends makes us happier and healthier. However, causal evidence exploiting individual-level national panel data and utilizing rigorous modelling approaches is scarce. In this paper, we pursue three goals. First, we replicate the findings of the previous literature by applying fixed effects (FE) models to three major European panel datasets (German Socio-Economic Panel, Swiss Household Panel, and the United Kingdom Household Longitudinal Study) following a rigorous modeling approach only controlling for potential confounders. Secondly, we enhance the literature by accounting for the potential influence of unobserved individual time-constant and time-varying heterogeneity by using random trend models (fixed effects with individual slopes (FEIS)). Thirdly, we inspect the impact of feedback by applying first-difference (FD) models. The results of FE, FEIS, and FD models show that the number of friends has a small positive effect on life satisfaction, confirming previous findings. Our study provides robust evidence and may be useful for social and public health policies tailored to the enhancement of social capital to promote subjective well-being.
Mader, Sebastian, et Axel Franzen. « Friends Make Us Happy: Evidence from Three European Panel Studies ». Journal of Happiness Studies 26, no 4 (29 mars 2025): 55. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10902-025-00888-2.
Facing a time crunch: Time poverty and travel behaviour in Canada
Abstract: Transportation scholars are keenly interested in the relationship between transportation and subjective well-being. To date, this body of scholarship has not addressed feelings of time pressure. We use the time crunch index from Canada’s 2015 General Social Survey (GSS) to analyze the role that transportation resources, travel behavior, and social demographics play in respondents’ self-reported experiences of time pressure. We find that resources and daily travel strongly affect the time crunch index and are compounded by the large effect of sociodemographic vulnerability, namely being a woman, immigrant, or member of an ethnic minority, and having a condition of disability. Our analysis presents a new approach for transportation scholars to measure the relationship between social well-being and transportation grounded in several decades of social science research on time use and well-being.
Kim, Sang-O., Matthew Palm, Soojung Han, et Nicholas J. Klein. « Facing a time crunch: Time poverty and travel behaviour in Canada ». SocArXiv. Center for Open Science, 27 décembre 2023. https://econpapers.repec.org/paper/osfsocarx/z6tvd_5fv1.htm?ref.
Impacts of Urban-rural Migration on Domain-specific Satisfaction
Abstract: This study examines the impact of migration between urban and rural areas on well-being, with a focus on overall life satisfaction and domain-specific satisfaction. Although previous research has established that migration to areas with declining population often reduces subjective well-being, little is known about how such urban-rural migration affects satisfaction across specific life domains. Using data from an online survey conducted among individuals in Japan, we find that migration to urban areas improves overall life satisfaction, resulting in a 7.39% higher life satisfaction compared to those who remain in rural areas. Additionally, such migration increases satisfaction in domains including jobs and wages, childcare, elderly care, and opportunities to meet people. In contrast, migration to rural areas does not improve well-being in domains such as environmental, security, and community satisfaction, which is hypothesized as advantages of migration to declining cities. Contrary to the common belief that people staying in rural areas have lower satisfaction with education and health than urban migrants, our findings reveal no significant disparity in these domains. By shedding light on domain-specific satisfaction, overall, our findings highlight the pronounced benefits of migration to urban areas. These results underscore the urgency for declining cities to improve their standards in these key domains to ensure long-term sustainability.
Kumagai, Junya, Sunbin Yoo, et Shunsuke Managi. « Impacts of Urban-rural Migration on Domain-specific Satisfaction ». Discussion paper. Research Institute of Economy, Trade and Industry (RIETI), février 2025. https://econpapers.repec.org/paper/etidpaper/25013.htm?ref.
Industrial robots and workers’ well-being in Europe
Abstract: In the 21st century, advancements in technologies such as industrial robots have raised concerns about their impact on employment and wages, prompting extensive research. However, their effects on workers’ subjective well-being remain underexplored. This study addresses this gap ¬by examining whether workers experience a decline in well-being due to a loss of agency or maintain it by leveraging human skills to adapt to automation. Using data from the International Federation of Robotics, Eurostat, and the European Social Survey (2002–2018), we link robot density at the country-industry-year level to workers’ life satisfaction, happiness, job influence, and health. Employing an instrumental variables approach, we find that robot adoption negatively affects medium-educated workers’ well-being, particularly its eudaimonic dimension, supporting the decreasing agency thesis. In contrast, low- and highly educated workers experience positive effects. These impacts are more pronounced among women and weaker in countries with robust compensatory social policies.
Bogusz, Honorata, et Daniela Bellani. « Industrial robots and workers’ well-being in Europe ». Working Paper. Faculty of Economic Sciences, University of Warsaw, 2025. https://econpapers.repec.org/paper/warwpaper/2025-01.htm?ref.