Examination of the relationship between income and happiness: The case of Sakarya

Income is the monetary value of the increase in the economic power of real or legal persons in the economic process from the production phase to the consumption phase, which is achieved by the inclusion of production factors in the economy or for different reasons without using production factors. In order to examine the existence of a relationship between income and happiness, detailed studies have been carried out. Studies have reached different results regarding the relationship between income and happiness. In some studies, it was concluded that those living in rich regions were more unhappy than those living in poor regions, and in some studies, it was concluded that the rich were happier than the poor individuals, and it was determined that the concept of happiness differs according to individuals. In this study, the relationship between income level and happiness level was investigated by using the Oxford Happiness Scale with 300 people selected from among male and female individuals in the province of Sakarya. As a result of the research, it is observed that the change in income levels does not differentiate the happiness levels of the individuals living in Sakarya and the happiness levels of the individuals are independent from their income levels. It is seen that other socio-demographic characteristics are also ineffective in individuals' happiness levels. The ineffectiveness of socio-demographic characteristics at the level of happiness suggests that factors such as the individual's lifestyle, preference to be happy, and perspective on life are factors. In addition, the fact that Sakarya is a rich city in many aspects can be said to be a factor in the fact that individuals' happiness levels are independent of socio-demographic characteristics.