Felicidad, sostenibilidad y rendimiento empresarial: relaciones y efectos
Happiness, sustainability and performance: Relationships and effects
Laura García-Fernández
,
Marta Ortiz-de-Urbina-Criado
,
María-José García-López
,
Virginia Ramírez-Herrero
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Suma de Negocios, 17(36), 52-62, enero-junio 2026, ISSN 2215-910X
https://doi.org/10.14349/sumneg/2026.V17.N36.A5
Recibido: 17 de diciembre de 2025
Aceptado: 17 de abril de 2026
Online: 29 de mayo de 2026
Introducción/objetivo: la “felicidad sostenible” en las empresas es un tema actual y muy relevante. Sin embargo, existe poca evidencia sobre si las prácticas de sostenibilidad pueden reforzar el impacto de la felicidad sobre los resultados de las empresas. Por ello, el objetivo de este artículo es dar respuesta a las siguientes preguntas de investigación: ¿cuál es el efecto de la felicidad en el rendimiento empresarial? y ¿cuál es el efecto conjunto de la felicidad y la sostenibilidad en dicho rendimiento?
Metodología: para contrastar las dos hipótesis planteadas, se hicieron varios modelos de regresión lineal múltiple en una muestra de empresas del IBEX-35.
Resultados: los resultados muestran, en primer lugar, que hay efectos significativos de la felicidad sobre la rentabilidad económica (ROA) y financiera (ROE). Y, en segundo lugar, se encontraron efectos positivos y significativos del binomio felicidad-sostenibilidad sobre la ROA, ROE y la Q de Tobin.
Conclusiones: en este trabajo se demostró que el binomio felicidad-sostenibilidad ayuda a que las empresas sean más rentables y creen más valor. La sociedad puede verse beneficiada por tener un tejido empresarial preocupado por cuidar a las personas y al planeta. Un planeta sostenible, unas empresas productivas y unas personas felices son la clave para mejorar el mundo.
Palabras clave:
Felicidad,
sostenibilidad,
rendimiento,
IBEX-35,
marketing social.
Códigos JEL:
M12, I31, J28, M14.
Introduction/objective: sustainable happiness in companies is a current and highly relevant topic. However, there is little evidence to suggest that sustainability practices can enhance the impact of happiness on company performance. Therefore, the objective of this study is to answer the following research questions: What is the effect of happiness on business performance? And, what is the combined effect of happiness and sustainability on that performance?
Methodology: to test the two hypotheses, several multiple linear regression models were performed on a sample of IBEX-35 companies.
Results: the results show, first, that happiness has significant effects on return on assets (ROA) and equity (ROE). And second, positive and significant effects of the happiness-sustainability combination on ROA, ROE and Tobin’s Q have been found.
Conclusions: this study has demonstrated that the happiness-sustainability binomial helps companies to be more profitable and create more value. Society can benefit from a company that cares about people and the planet. Improving the world is possible if we focus on a sustainable planet, productive companies and happy people.
Keywords:
Happiness,
sustainability,
performance,
IBEX-35,
social marketing.
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Dimensions
PlumX
Instituciones
EAE Business School, Madrid, España
Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, Madrid, España
Universidad Complutense, Madrid, España
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