The Economics of Happiness in Transition Economies

• Project/Area Number: 18K01559
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 07040:Economic policy-related
• Research Institution: Hokkaido University
• Principal Investigator: HIWATARI Masato 北海道大学, 経済学研究院, 准教授 (50547172)
• Project Period (FY): 2018-04-01 – 2022-03-31
• Project Status: Completed (Fiscal Year 2021)
• Budget Amount: ¥2,600,000 (Direct Cost: ¥2,000,000、Indirect Cost: ¥600,000); Fiscal Year 2020: ¥910,000 (Direct Cost: ¥700,000、Indirect Cost: ¥210,000); Fiscal Year 2019: ¥910,000 (Direct Cost: ¥700,000、Indirect Cost: ¥210,000); Fiscal Year 2018: ¥780,000 (Direct Cost: ¥600,000、Indirect Cost: ¥180,000)
• Keywords: 主観的幸福度 / 移行経済学 / 移民 / 自由貿易 / 民主主義 / 権威主義 / 主観的厚生 / 社会的信頼 / 市場移行 / ウズベキスタン / 共同体 / 移行経済 / グローバリゼーション / ソーシャル・キャピタル

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The purpose of this study was to identify the factors that shape subjective well-being and subjective perceptions of political economy in the transition economies of the former Soviet Union and Central and Eastern Europe. The factors were intended to be empirically tested not only on economic factors but also on social trust. The primary data used were micro data from a large three-wave survey conducted by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and the World Bank in about 30 countries in transition economies. The results revealed that although social trust and recent economic changes (migration and changes in the trade environment) have a significant impact on people's perceptions, there is also intra-regional heterogeneity.

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

旧ソ連・中東欧の市場移行国を対象とした移行経済学の分野においては、人々の生活実感やSWBといった観点からの研究は端緒についたばかりであり，社会的信頼や地域内の異質性といった新たな要素をもたらした研究となった。研究期間を通して，研究成果の現地への還元を積極的に進めてきた。特に，ウズベキスタンにおいては，学術会議やセミナー，その他の政府関係の会議において度々報告しており，研究代表者は「ウズベキスタン共和国独立30周年記念勲章」を授与されるに至っている。

Research Products

• [Int'l Joint Research] タシケント国立経済大学/プレハーノフロシア経済大学タシケント校(ウズベキスタン)
• [Int'l Joint Research] モスクワ国際関係大学タシケント校(ウズベキスタン)
• [Int'l Joint Research] モスクワ国際関係大学タシケント校(ウズベキスタン)
• [Int'l Joint Research] プレハーノフ・ロシア経済大学タシケント校(ウズベキスタン)
• [Journal Article] Researcher Interview: State of the Art (2) (2020)
  • Author(s): 樋渡雅人
  • Journal Title: Ajia Keizai Volume: 61 Issue: 3 Pages: 61-96
  • DOI: 10.24765/ajiakeizai.61.3_61
  • NAID: 130007925900
  • ISSN: 0002-2942, 2434-0537
  • Year and Date: 2020-09-15
  • Open Access
• [Journal Article] Labor Migration and People’s Political and Economic Views in Transition Countries (2020)
  • Author(s): Yamada Daichi、Hiwatari Masato
  • Journal Title: SSRN Electronic Journal Volume: October 27 Pages: 1-39
  • DOI: 10.2139/ssrn.3720329
  • Open Access
• [Journal Article] Happiness and Trust in Transition Countries: The Role of Social Trust and “Mahalla” in Uzbekistan (2019)
  • Author(s): Hiwatari, Masato
  • Journal Title: in B. Khodiev et al. eds., Urgent Problems of State Regulation of Foreign Economic Activity in the Context of Innovative Development of Uzbekistan's Economy Volume: 1 Pages: 319-325
• [Presentation] Development and Subjective Well-being in Uzbekistan: The Role of Mahalla under the Pandemic (2021)
  • Author(s): HIWATARI, Masato
  • Organizer: International Conference on: “Uzbekistan: Five Years of Fast-Paced Reforms”, International Hotel Tashkent, the Government of Uzbekistan
  • Int'l Joint Research
• [Presentation] Development and Social Institutions: Why is Agricultural Development in Uzbekistan Challenging? (2021)
  • Author(s): HIWATARI, Masato
  • Organizer: International Symposium on a Cocreation of Social System and Technological Innovation for Global Food Resource
  • Int'l Joint Research / Invited
• [Presentation] グローバリゼーションと経済ナショナリズム (2020)
  • Author(s): 樋渡雅人
  • Organizer: 比較経済体制学会第60回全国大会
• [Presentation] 移行経済論と開発経済学の接点としての中央アジア地域研究 (2020)
  • Author(s): 樋渡雅人
  • Organizer: 日本中央アジア学会2019年度年次大会
• [Presentation] Happiness and Trust in Transition Countries: The Roles of Social Trust and “Mahalla” in Uzbekistan (2019)
  • Author(s): Hiwatari, Masato
  • Organizer: II International Scientific and Practical Conference "Actions Strategy of Uzbekistan: Macroeconomic Stability, Investment Activity and Perspectives of Innovative Development
  • Int'l Joint Research / Invited
• [Presentation] Economic Analyses of Social Networks: An Empirical Study on the Mahalla in Uzbekistan (2019)
  • Author(s): Hiwatari, Masato
  • Organizer: International Seminar at Center for Economic Research and Reforms
  • Int'l Joint Research / Invited
• [Presentation] 移民と政治経済的価値観―Life in Transition Survey I-IIIを用いた実証分析 (2018)
  • Author(s): 樋渡雅人，山田大地
  • Organizer: 比較経済体制学会第58回全国大会
• [Book] 現代中央アジア (2018)
  • Author(s): 宇山智彦、樋渡雅人
  • Total Pages: 304
  • Publisher: 日本評論社
  • ISBN: 4535558264
• [Remarks] 北海道大学プレスリリース「 ウズベキスタン独立 30周年記念」勲章 を受賞
  • URL: https://www.hokudai.ac.jp/news/pdf/220112_pr2.pdf
• [Funded Workshop] 地域経済経営ネットワーク研究センター2018年度第4 回研究会"New Stage of Economic Reforms in Uzbekistan and its first Results" (2018)