THE PRICE OF HAPPINESS: ECONOMIC FACTORS IMPACTING WOMEN’S WELL-BEING

Economic factors are well-known to influence various outlooks of our societies, as well as they can also shape idiosyncratic aspects of human beings’ lives. A potential question that may come up is whether impersonal, objective economic factors can have any influence or impact on subjective, human characteristics such happiness and well-being. According to the Hologic Global Women’s Health Index, Romania has the unhappiest women in the European Union. On the broader European continent, only Bosnia and Herzegovina, Moldova, and Albania report even lower levels of happiness among women compared to Romania. Based on this information, the aim of the present paper is to analyse the extent to which certain economic factors influence the happiness and well-being of women across the European Union. This analysis was conducted using regression models to examine the impact of property rights, trade freedom, and labour freedom on women's happiness and well-being in the EU. These measures of happiness and well-being were assessed through women's opinions on health, safety, and the fulfilment of basic needs. The findings indicate that increased property rights and trade freedom are associated with higher levels of happiness and well-being among women. However, greater labour freedom appears to have a negative effect on these outcomes. These conclusions are consistent with some of the existing literature on the relationship between economic factors and women's happiness, suggesting that while certain economic conditions can positively influence happiness, others may unexpectedly have adverse effects.