Eudemonic Happiness in Economics

2 PM, Seminar Room, Department of Economics and Management

Speaker: Maurizio Pugno, University of Cassino

Abstract

Economic growth has extraordinarily increased the availability of market goods to satisfy people’s need for comfort, but at the same time it has also raised great challenges to their working, family, and personal lives. Will people learn the skill necessary to cope with these challenges and take full enjoyment from economic growth? The seminar explores this question by focusing on the unique role of creative skill in human development, and by approaching a theory of ‘eudemonic happiness’. Theoretical references are Tibor Scitovsky and Amartya Sen. Empirical references are drawn from the recent studies in Economics of Happiness, Economics of Human Capital, Behavioural Economics, as well as from recent interdisciplinary research.