How did the trend of male and female happiness change during the early 2000s to late 2010s in Japan?
Many previous studies have examined the trends in male and female happiness. However, most studies have not used the data after 2010 and have not focused on the Asian region. In order to fill this gap, this study examined the trends in male and female happiness using Japan Household Panel Survey on Consumer Preferences and Satisfaction (JHPS-CPS). The result of the study provided three findings. First, female happiness was higher than male happiness, and it has not experienced a statistically significant change during the analysis period. On the other hand, male happiness declined, leading to an increase in the gender happiness gap. Second, the result of the analysis by individual attributes showed that the gender happiness gap expanded in age 35-49, university graduates and more, unmarried, and individuals with children. Third, the analysis that focused on the unmarried and individuals with children by age group indicated that male happiness declined notably in the case of the unmarried over 50 and men with children under 49.
