A capability pathway to subjective economic well-being: looking beyond materialism

Abstract

By integrating sociological factors, this study explores novel causal mechanisms to broaden the understanding of subjective economic well-being (SEWB). The results of a probit regression analysis of Indian Human Development Survey (IHDS) cross-sectional and panel data reveal a positive, significant effect of successful upward intergenerational occupational mobility on improved perceptions of SEWB. The findings remain robust and significant irrespective of changes in the acquisition and possession of household material assets. The empirical evidence presented herein showcases the utility of adding sociological factors to the discourse on SEWB. Additionally, the present study offers an alternative perspective on the primacy accorded to material possessions in the SEWB literature in marketing. The functionings-capabilities framework is offered as an explanatory framework to interpret the findings. Together, the study offers clear theoretical and managerial contributions to a more nuanced understanding of SEWB.