Title: Predictors of happiness and implications for business: evidence from Latin America

Authors: Christopher J. Robertson; Merlin Patricia Grueso Hinestroza; Jerry Haar

Addresses: International Business and Strategy Group, D'Amore-McKim School of Business, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA ' Escuela de Administración Investigación, Universidad del Rosario, Bogota, Colombia ' College of Business, Florida International University, Miami, Florida, USA

Abstract: From an international business perspective, 'happier' nations may be more pleasant places to do business. In this study, we explore the antecedents to country-level happiness. In this study, we explore the antecedents to country-level happiness. These include income and education, healthcare, institutions and cultural variables. We do so with a focus on one region of the world, Latin America, to ascertain whether or not happiness predictors differ from the rest of the world. Our tentative conclusions - such as our finding that government effectiveness as a predictor of happiness varies between Latin America and the rest of the world - have clear implications for both managers and policymakers.

Keywords: comparative management; cross-cultural studies; happiness; economic development.

DOI: 10.1504/IJCM.2021.120026

International Journal of Comparative Management, 2021 Vol.4 No.1, pp.53 - 70

Received: 25 Mar 2021
Accepted: 27 Aug 2021
Published online: 04 Jan 2022 *

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