Spatial dimension of subjective well-being

Abstract

The rural-urban paradox of happiness is examined that, in developed countries, manifests itself in higher life satisfaction of rural residents compared to urban residents. This topic has become increasingly important due to the dynamics of urbanization and the overwhelming majority of the global population settling in urban areas. Based on the analysis of statistical data and foreign literature, the aim of the study is to highlight the issues associated with defining the paradox and analyze various approaches to this topic. As the cost of living in urban areas rises, the paradox might become more pronounced, and the territorial differentiation of subjective well-being is likely to increase. In this scenario, human civilization will face fundamental challenges relating to the future of cities and the spatial distribution of the global population.