Pérez-Asenjo, Eduardo2012-09-132012-09-132011-10Journal of Population Economics, Oct 2011, vol. 24, n.4, pp. 1411-14420933-1433http://hdl.handle.net/10016/15313The original publication is available at www.springerlink.comThis paper addresses two important issues: the nature of the reference group to which individuals compare themselves, and the implications of social comparisons for labour supply. It identifies age as the main characteristic defining the reference group. Race, sex and religion are other relevant features in its determination. It provides micro-level evidence that social comparisons influence the hours an individual works. Specifically, if her income is lower than her reference group income, she will work more. It also shows that for males, white people and people living in rural areas the effect of relative income on both happiness and labour supply is greater.application/pdfeng© Springer-Verlag 2010HappinessRelative incomeLabour supplyresearch articleD01D19J22Economía10.1007/s00148-010-0322-zopen access141141442Journal of Population Economics24