Gender and well-being around the world

We explore gender differences in reported well-being around the world, both across and within countries – comparing age, income, and education cohorts. We find that women have higher levels of well-being than men, with a few exceptions in low income countries. We also find differences in the standard relationships between key variables – such as marriage and well-being – when differential gender rights are accounted for. We conclude that differences in well-being across genders are affected by the same empirical and methodological factors that drive the paradoxes underlying income and well-being debates, with norms and expectations playing an important mediating role.