Populations in slums are happier than rural populations: The case of Mumbai

Abstract

In developing countries, research found that rural populations express levels of well-being lower than that of urban populations. However, previous investigations do not compare subjective well-being (SWB) between informal urban settlements, also known as slums, and rural areas despite the large migrations occurring between these two areas. The absence of surveys on SWB targeting slum areas impedes this type of investigation. Thus, this study aims to understand whether rural populations in developing countries have SWB different from those in urban areas’ informal settlements. We use the results of an original questionnaire-based survey focusing on Greater Mumbai’s slums and rural areas for this purpose. We also investigate whether the characteristics of respondents determined by their socioeconomic profiles, social capital, and economic situations in their area of residence explain the difference in SWB between areas. Our results show that populations in slums have, on average, happiness and life satisfaction higher than that of rural populations. Higher levels of happiness are linked to higher social trust and satisfaction with one’s community, while higher satisfaction with life is linked to higher socioeconomic profiles in slums. Issues related to this difference in SWB and policy implications are discussed.