29 November 2016

Call for papers: "Happiness and Well-Being in Africa"

For a special issue of the International Journal of Happiness and Development.

In spite of enjoying more than two decades of resurgence in economic growth, a report by the World Bank on the achievement of the millennium development goal (MDG) extreme poverty target revealed that extreme poverty has been decreasing in all regions of the world with the exception of Africa where about half of the countries in Sub-Saharan Africa were considerably off-track from reaching the MDG extreme poverty target by the year 2015 (see World Bank, 2015; Asongu & Nwachukwu, 2016). Meanwhile the statistics of the World Bank substantially contrast with another study in the same year which revealed that nine of the top ten countries with the healthiest diets were from Sub-Saharan Africa, namely (ranked from 1st to 10th): Chad, Sierra Leone, Mali, Gambia, Uganda, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Senegal, Israel and Somalia (see Gander, 2015). This apparent contradiction between poverty standards that are assessed in monetary terms and the quality of food with which money can buy, is a clear indication that much is yet unknown about poverty, well-being and happiness.
 
In light of the above, this special issue aims to advance scholarship on well-being and happiness in Africa. We, therefore welcome theoretical, conceptual and empirical contributions which address any relevant areas that can enhance extant knowledge on linkages between poverty, happiness and well-being in Africa.
 
Suitable topics include, but are not limited, to the following:
  • Measurements of well-being and happiness
  • Well-being, happiness and sustainable development goals (SDGs)
  • Determinants of happiness and well-being
  • Environmental quality and well-being
  • Trust and happiness
  • Information and communication technology and happiness
 
Important Dates
Submission of manuscripts: 30 June 2017
Notification to authors: 30 September, 2017
Final versions due: 30 December 2017
 
 
References:
Asongu, S.A, & Nwachukwu, J. C., (2016). "The Mobile Phone in the Diffusion of Knowledge for Institutional Quality in Sub Saharan Africa", World Development, 86(October), pp.133-147.
Gander, K., (2015). "Revealed: the countries with the best and worst diets in the world", The Independent, http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/health-news/revealed-the-countries-with-the-best-and-worst-diets-in-the-world-10057363.html (Accessed: 24/11/2016).
World Bank (2015). "World Development Indicators", World Bank Publications http://www.gopa.de/fr/news/world-bank-release-world-development-indicators-2015 (Accessed: 25/04/2015).

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