Posted: May 1st, 2022

Main Point

THE MEASUREMENT OF HAPPINESS

In the last 50 years there has been no apparent increase in personal happiness in Western nations, despite steadily growing economies. In both Europe and the USA surveys have found no greater level of happiness since the 1950s, which seems strange since wealthier people generally claim to be happier than poorer people. In America, for example, more than a third of the richest group said they were ‘very happy’, while only half this number of the poorest made the same claim. Although it would be logical to expect that rising national wealth would lead to greater national happiness, this has not happened. Individually, more money does seem to increase happiness, but when everyone gets richer, no one appears to feel better.

Economists have recently paid more attention to studying happiness, instead of the more traditional GDP per person. One suggestion has been that people rapidly get used to improvements, and therefore devalue them. Central heating is a good example: whereas 30 years ago it was a luxury item, today it is standard in nearly every home.

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HAPPINESS IS MEASURED IN DIFFERENT WAYS

Despite gradually expanding economies, there has been no visible improvement in personal happiness in Western countries over the previous 50 years. Since the 1950s, studies in both Europe and the United States have found no greater level of happiness, which seems odd given that wealthy individuals often claim to be happier than poorer people. In America, for example, more than a third of the wealthiest people stated they were “very pleased,” while only half of the poorest people answered the same. Although it might seem reasonable that increasing national income would result in increased national happiness, this has not been the case. Individually, more money appears to boost happiness, but no one appears to feel better when everyone gets wealthy.

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