Pursuit of happiness: Subjective well-being of immigrants and natives

Recent studies establish that subjective well-being plays a significant part in the adjustment of immigrants in the host country and that after facing the initial costs of migration, immigrants experience levels of well-being similar to natives across generations. Using two surveys, including the World Values Survey as well as the joint World Values Survey and European Value Survey, we, however, find that variations in subjective well-being of immigrants and natives persist across generations, with second-generation immigrants experiencing higher differences. This finding can be attributed to an increase in the aspirations of second-generation immigrants. In developed regions, both first-generation and second-generation immigrants have a higher probability of reporting greater subjective well-being than natives, which can be attributed to an improved standard of living among immigrants. Additionally, we look at the association between holding immigration-friendly attitudes and the subjective well-being of natives. Our study provides important policy insights.