13.08.2025 New Publication: Violence Undermines Happiness in Afghanistan, Especially for the Wealthy

A new study by Asadi and Farzanegan reveals a critical insight into well-being in conflict-affected Afghanistan: while higher income generally brings more happiness, this benefit is significantly reduced by widespread fear and experiences of violence. This negative impact is particularly strong for wealthier individuals.

The research, published in the Review of Development Economics, was conducted by Mohammad Haroon Asadi and Mohammad Reza Farzanegan of the Economics of the Middle East Research Group. Their findings are based on a large nationwide survey of over 62,000 people across Afghanistan from 2016 to 2021. Afghanistan has endured over four decades of conflict and consistently ranks among the unhappiest countries globally, with high levels of worry and stress reported by its population.

Key Findings of the Study:
• Income and Happiness are Linked: The study confirms that people with higher household incomes generally report greater happiness. This positive connection is most noticeable at higher income levels.
 
• Insecurity Reduces Happiness: Both the fear of insecurity and direct experiences of violence consistently lower people's happiness. This highlights the deep impact of Afghanistan's unstable environment on its citizens' well-being.
 
• Wealth Offers Less Protection Than Expected: Most notably, the study found that fear and violence disproportionately affect the happiness of higher-income individuals.
 
    ◦ For those with lower incomes, the impact of fear or violence on their happiness is minimal; their unhappiness is already largely tied to their economic struggles.
 
    ◦ However, for wealthier individuals who experience fear or violence, the likelihood of being "very happy" significantly drops. This suggests that wealth does not insulate against the psychological toll of conflict. Affluent individuals might, in fact, experience heightened anxiety over losing their assets or distrust corrupt institutions during times of instability.
 
These robust findings underscore that simply increasing income is not enough to improve well-being in fragile countries like Afghanistan
. To enhance the lives of Afghans, policies must address both economic support and the urgent need for improved security and physical safety.

The full paper is open access via https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/rode.70034

A short video of this study is online at https://www.youtube.com/watch?si=i7-APLD6KureirIT&v=WRwBRJ30q5M&feature=youtu.be