A perspective on the economics of happiness from the viewpoint of life satisfaction: A field study in the province of Gaziantep

There is a growing interest in the relationship between economic growth and subjective well-being, and the role of economic policies in shaping individual happiness has become increasingly significant. Happiness economics is a field that examines not only income levels but also life satisfaction and subjective well-being, taking into account both economic and sociodemographic factors. The Easterlin Paradox (1974) constitutes a foundational approach in this literature, while psychological mechanisms such as expectations, social comparison, and adaptation have become measurable through large-scale datasets and advanced econometric methods. This thesis examines the position of happiness economics within behavioral economics, its historical development in economic thought, and the current literature on the subject. In addition, the study empirically investigates the factors affecting individuals' subjective well-being levels in Gaziantep province from a life satisfaction perspective. The empirical analysis is based on 364 observations obtained through an online survey conducted with individuals working in various sectors in Gaziantep. The survey includes demographic variables as well as scales measuring daily life happiness and job satisfaction. The data were analyzed using the SPSS software package, and parametric methods were applied following normality tests. Independent samples t-tests, one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), Pearson correlation, and regression analyses were employed. The findings reveal a positive and statistically significant relationship between life satisfaction and job satisfaction. Additionally, significant differences in happiness levels were observed across age groups. Regression results indicate that daily life happiness is a strong and significant predictor of job satisfaction. This thesis represents the first empirical study conducted on happiness economics in Gaziantep province.