Media type: Text; E-Article Title: Are we Architects of our own happiness? The Importance of Family Background for Well-Being Contributor: Schnitzlein, D.D. [Author]; Wunder, C. [Author] Published: Berlin : Walter de Gruyter, 2016 Published in: B.E. Journal of Economic Analysis and Policy 16 (2016), Nr. 1 Issue: published Version Language: English DOI: https://doi.org/10.15488/2290; https://doi.org/10.1515/bejeap-2015-0037 ISSN: 1935-1682 Keywords: family background ; subjective well-being ; intergenerational mobility Origination: Footnote: Diese Datenquelle enthält auch Bestandsnachweise, die nicht zu einem Volltext führen. Description: This paper analyzes whether individuals have equal opportunity to achieve happiness (or well-being). We estimate sibling correlations and intergenerational correlations in self-reported life satisfaction, satisfaction with household income, job satisfaction, and satisfaction with health. We find high sibling correlations for all measures of well-being. The results suggest that family background explains, on average, between 30% and 60% of the inequality in permanent well-being. The influence is smaller when the siblings' psychological and geographical distance from their parental home is larger. Results from intergenerational correlations suggest that parental characteristics are considerably less important than family and community factors. © 2016 by De Gruyter 2016. Access State: Open Access