Oswald, Andrew J. , Proto, Eugenio and Sgroi, Daniel (2008) Happiness and productivity. Working Paper. Coventry: University of Warwick, Department of Economics. (Warwick economic research papers.

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Abstract

Little is known by economists about how emotions affect productivity. To make persuasive progress, some way has to be found to assign people exogenously to different feelings. We design a randomized trial. In it, some subjects have their happiness levels increased, while others in a control group do not. We show that a rise in happiness leads to greater productivity in a paid piece-rate task. The effect is large ; it can be replicated ; it is not a reciprocity effect ; and it is found equally among males and females. We discuss the implications for economics.

Item Type:	Working or Discussion Paper (Working Paper)
Subjects:	H Social Sciences > HD Industries. Land use. Labor B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BF Psychology
Divisions:	Faculty of Social Sciences > Economics
Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH):	Emotions -- Economic aspects, Happiness -- Testing, Industrial productivity -- Psychological aspects, Economics -- Psychological aspects -- Research
Series Name:	Warwick economic research papers
Publisher:	University of Warwick, Department of Economics
Place of Publication:	Coventry
Date:	21 December 2008
Number:	No.882
Number of Pages:	44
Status:	Not Peer Reviewed
Access rights to Published version:	Open Access
Version or Related Resource:	Oswald, A.J., Proto, E and Sgori, D. (2008). Happiness and productivity. [Bonn] : IZA. (IZA Discussion Paper no.4645).
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URI:	http://wrap.warwick.ac.uk/id/eprint/1335

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