The Origins of Happiness

Building a Family

not a lot (with huge upsides being matched by significant

downsides).

Causes of Partnering and Parenting

If being partnered is so desirable while it lasts, what deter-

mines who gets partnered? Partnership is not easy to pre-

dict, but Table 5.3 provides some interesting insights. Not

surprisingly, people whose parents broke up are 4% points

less likely to be partnered (in the BCS). And all the dif-

ferent dimensions of child development make equal (but

0.6

0.4

0.2

0.0

–0.2

–4 –2 0

Britain

Men

Women

24 +

Eec

t o

n life

-satisfa

ct

ion (

0–

10

)

GermanyAustralia

0.6

0.4

0.2

0.0

–0.2

–4 –2 02 4+ –4 –2 02 4+
Years before and after having children
Figure 5.6. Adaptation to parenthood (household panel data)