Spatial influences on domains of life satisfaction in the UK

Abstract

Multiple studies have identified an urban penalty on, and regional differences in, life satisfaction, but few studies compare the effects of both. This study applies a generalized ordered logit to data on residential location, region of the UK and two different life satisfaction measures. Overall, the regional effect outweighs the rural effect. A stable rural premium for life satisfaction is found; for satisfaction with leisure, though, the effect differs across levels of satisfaction (a rural location increases the likelihood of being both highly satisfied and highly dissatisfied). Regional effects are also found to differ across levels of life satisfaction.