FACTORS PREDICTING THE SUBJECTIVE WELL-BEING OF NATIONS

Subjective well-being (SWB) in 55 nations, reported in probability sur veys and a large college student sample, was correlated with social, e conomic, and cultural characteristics of the nations. The SWB surveys, representing nations that include three fourths of the earth's popula tion, showed strong convergence. Separate measures of the predictor va riables also converged and formed scales with high reliability, with t he exception of the comparison variables. High income, individualism, human rights, and societal equality correlated strongly with each othe r, and with SWB across surveys. Income correlated with SWB even after basic need fulfillment was controlled. Only individualism persistently correlated with SWB when other predictors were controlled. Cultural h omogeneity, income growth, and income comparison showed either low or inconsistent relations with SWB.