Life Satisfaction and Tax Preferences in Transition Economies

In this seminar, Dr Adriani argues that higher quality of life makes people better citizens, more civically committed and more willing to contribute to a better social and institutional environment. Focusing on Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) and the Former Soviet Union (FSU), the paper analyses the role of life satisfaction in the willingness of an individual to pay more taxes with the aim of improving public good provision relating to education, health, and support of people in need, as well as to combat climate change. Empirical evidence suggests that individuals reporting higher scores of life satisfaction are more willing to contribute to different types of public and common goods. This result reinforces the perspective of co-benefit, indicated as the positive impact that perceived quality-of-life conditions have on different socio-economic aspects including social outcome, and other human behaviour. Policies improving citizens’ life conditions and expectations could have spill-over effect on individual tax preferences and behavioural aspects.

This event will take place in person and will also be livestreamed online https://ucl.zoom.us/j/95273171065

About the speaker

Luca Andriani is a senior lecturer of economics at the Department of Management of Birkbeck and has previously held posts at Birkbeck (Department of Economics), SOAS and City University of London. He is the Co-Director of the Centre for Political Economy and Institutional Studies (CPEIS), Director of the MSc Business Political Economy and Society and Coordinator of the Department of Management Working Paper Series. His research interests focus on the role of social norms and trust on the governance of state-citizens relationship and on the cognitive aspects that influence individuals’ attitudes towards corruption and tax evasion.

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