The relationship of competitiveness motive on people's happiness through education

This paper applied data from 32 countries to find out the relationship between competitiveness motive and happiness, and results showed that competitiveness motive negatively predicted happiness through public education expenditure. Public education expenditure was found to have a mediation effect between competitiveness motive and happiness. Different variables were used, such as happiness score of 2000–2008, public health expenditure as percentage of GDP in 2001 and 2004, public education expenditure as percentage of GDP in 2001 and 2004, and competitiveness motive score. Overall, countries with high competitiveness motive had low public expenditure on education and thus countries had low happiness scores.

Research highlights▶ This paper applied data from 32 countries to find out the relationship between competitiveness motive and happiness. ▶ Variables such as happiness score, public health expenditure as percentage of GDP, public education expenditure as percentage of GDP, and competitiveness motive score were used. ▶ Results showed that competitiveness motive negatively predicted happiness through public education expenditure. ▶ Public education expenditure was found to have a mediation effect between competitiveness motive and happiness.