@techreport{4b02da6ab4d24553977c6c55b6883563,
title = "Does the Internet make people happier?",
abstract = "As people are spending more time online, it is important to evaluate the impact of Internet use on individual well-being. Internet use yields direct utility and economic returns (e.g. better job, higher productivity) that may increase life sa-tisfaction. But the Internet might also have detrimental effects (addiction, social isolation, e.g.). This paper empirically examines the relation between Internet use and subjective well-being. Using Luxemburgish data from a European so-cial survey, we find evidence that non users are less satisfied in their life than Internet users. This result holds when we control for socio-demographic charac-teristics, social capital, values and beliefs, and health and income. Moreover, the positive influence of Internet use is stronger for low income and young in-dividuals. These findings suggest that public policy aiming to reduce the digital divide are socially desirable..",
keywords = "Internet, digital divide, happiness, social capital, social values, well-being",
author = "Thierry Penard and Nicolas Poussing and Rapha{\"e}l Suire",
year = "2011",
language = "English",
series = "Working Papers",
publisher = "CEPS/INSTEAD",
number = "2011-41",
type = "WorkingPaper",
institution = "CEPS/INSTEAD",
}