Taking the Pulse of Nations: A Biometric Measure of Well-being

19 Pages Posted: 27 Jan 2022

See all articles by David G. Blanchflower

David G. Blanchflower

Dartmouth College - Department of Economics; National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER); University of Stirling - Department of Economics

Alex Bryson

UCL ; National Institute of Economic and Social Research (NIESR)

Abstract

We introduce a biometric measure of wellbeing – pulse – which has been largely overlooked.  Using nationally representative data on 165,000 individuals from the Health Survey for England (HSE) and Scottish Health Surveys (SHeS) we show that its correlates are similar in a number of ways to those for SWB, and that it is highly correlated with SWB metrics, as well as self-assessed health.  Second, we examine the determinants of pulse rates in mid-life (age 42) among the 9,000 members of the National Child Development Study (NCDS), a birth cohort born in a single week in 1958 in Britain.  Third, we track the impact of pulse measured in mid-life (age 42) on health and labor market outcomes at age 50 in 2008 and age 55 in 2013.  The probability of working at age 55 is negatively impacted by pulse rate a decade earlier.  The pulse rate has an impact over and above chronic pain measured at age 42.  General health at 55 is lower the higher the pulse rate at age 42, while those with higher pulse rates at 42 also express lower life satisfaction and more pessimism about the future at age 50.

Keywords: pulse, wellbeing, Mental Health, general health, paid work

Suggested Citation

Blanchflower, David G. and Bryson, Alex, Taking the Pulse of Nations: A Biometric Measure of Well-being. Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=4019300 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.4019300

David G. Blanchflower (Contact Author)

Dartmouth College - Department of Economics ( email )

Hanover, NH 03755
United States
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National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER)

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University of Stirling - Department of Economics ( email )

Stirling, FK9 4LA
United Kingdom

Alex Bryson

UCL ( email )

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HOME PAGE: http://https://iris.ucl.ac.uk/iris/browse/profile?upi=ABRYS65

National Institute of Economic and Social Research (NIESR) ( email )

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Smith Square
London, SW1P 3HE
United Kingdom

HOME PAGE: http://www.niesr.ac.uk/staff/staffdetail.php?StaffID=307

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