Date of Award

2023

Degree Type

Open Access Dissertation

Degree Name

Economics, PhD

Program

School of Social Science, Politics, and Evaluation

Advisor/Supervisor/Committee Chair

Joshua Tasoff

Dissertation or Thesis Committee Member

Monica Capra

Dissertation or Thesis Committee Member

Tom Kniesner

Terms of Use & License Information

Terms of Use for work posted in Scholarship@Claremont.

Rights Information

© 2023 Zhou Fang

Keywords

Subjective well-being, Philanthropic behavior, Corporate social responsibility

Subject Categories

Economics | Educational Leadership | Women's Studies

Abstract

Well-being is important because it directly impacts an individual's quality of life and overall happiness. It encompasses physical, mental, and social aspects, promoting a balanced and fulfilling existence. Optimal well-being leads to improved productivity, resilience, and positive contributions to society, creating a healthier and more harmonious world.

This dissertation delves into the realm of interdisciplinary research, bridging economics and psychology, to investigate several critical areas that affect peoples’ wellbeing. It explores gender discrimination within peer review processes, seeks advancements in the measurement of subjective well-being, and analyzes the influence of cultural factors on prosocial behaviors.

The first chapter delves into gender bias in the peer review process within academia. Using advanced Natural Language Processing (NLP) techniques, the study analyzes the textual content of academic papers to predict their quality, as measured by the H-index of the journals where they are published. The findings reveal evidence of gender bias, demonstrating that women face a disadvantage in the peer-review process, albeit not as severe as commonly perceived.

The second chapter focuses on enhancing the accuracy and depth of subjective well-being (SWB) surveys through the implementation of countdown timers. By conducting an online experiment involving 600 participants, the study investigates the effects of countdown timers on preventing mis-responding and distinguishing between affective and cognitive well-being. The results show that the inclusion of timers leads to more comprehensive responses and a better understanding of participants' life satisfaction, as they engage in deeper reflection during the survey.

The third chapter explores the influence of collectivist cultural values on corporate social responsibility during the early phase of the Covid-19 pandemic in China. The study examines the donation behaviors of private corporations led by chairmen with collectivist names. Through regression analyses and robustness checks, the research uncovers that enterprises with such chairmen are more likely to initiate donations, contribute higher average amounts, and make donations promptly. This emphasizes the role of cultural symbolism in shaping philanthropic behavior and emphasizes the significance of cultural factors in driving corporate social responsibility practices.

ISBN

9798381953589

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