Happiness and Innovation Around the World

Yuna Heo, Fangfang Hou, Faculty of Business and Economics, University of Basel and Swiss Finance Institute, Institute for Financial , Accounting Studies, Xiamen University, Atkinson Graduate School of Management, Willamette University

Journal of Accounting, Auditing & Finance

Published online on April 22, 2026

Abstract

Journal of Accounting, Auditing & Finance, Ahead of Print.
This study investigates the impact of happiness on corporate innovation around the world. Using novel data from the World Happiness Report, we document that happiness is positively associated with firm innovation. The effect is more pronounced for R&D ...