In today’s Herald Tribune, I read the following article:
Maybe money can buy happiness after all
By David Leonhardt The New York Times
In the aftermath of World War II, the Japanese economy went through one of the greatest booms the world has ever known. From 1950 to 1970, the Japanese per-person economic output grew more than sevenfold. Japan, in just a few decades, remade itself from a war-torn country into one of the richest nations on earth.
Yet, strangely, Japanese citizens didn’t seem to become any more satisfied with their lives. According to one poll, the percentage of people who gave the most positive possible answer about their life satisfaction actually fell from the late 1950s to the early ’70s. They were richer but apparently no happier.
This contrast became the most famous example of a theory known as the Easterlin paradox. In 1974, an economist at the University of Pennsylvania named Richard Easterlin published a study in which he argued that economic growth didn’t necessarily lead to more satisfaction.
People in poor countries, not surprisingly, did become happier once they could afford basic necessities. But beyond that, further gains simply seemed to reset the bar. To put it in current terms, owning an iPod doesn’t make you happier, because you then want an iPod Touch.
Relative income - how much you make compared with others around you - mattered far more than absolute income, Easterlin wrote.
The paradox quickly became a social science classic, cited in academic journals and the popular media. It tapped into a near-spiritual human instinct to believe that money can’t buy happiness. As a 2006 headline in The Financial Times said, “The Hippies Were Right All Along About Happiness.”
But now the Easterlin paradox is under attack.
(…)
Two economists, Betsey Stevenson and Justin Wolfers, argue that money tends to bring happiness, even if it doesn’t guarantee it. They point out that in the 34 years since Easterlin published his paper, an explosion of public opinion surveys has allowed for a better look at the question. “The central message,” Stevenson said, “is that income does matter.”
(…)
Economic growth, by itself, certainly isn’t enough to guarantee people’s well-being - which is Easterlin’s great contribution to economics. In the United States, for instance, some big health care problems, like poor basic treatment of heart disease, don’t stem from a lack of sufficient resources. Recent research has also found that some of the things that make people happiest - short commutes, time spent with friends - have little to do with higher incomes.
(…)
17 Responses to “Money vs Happiness?”
Comment Page 1 of 11
Nothing can bring you joy
but someone’s smile,
nothing can light up your face
but happy eyes,
nothing can move your heart
but touch of hope,
everything only makes sense
if you..love.
love
Agnieszka
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Old man was fishing with simple rod and throwing fish back into sea. Rich tourist passing by, watched and asked
- Why you do it?
- I have enough for today !
- But you can sell it and buy better rod .
- And then ?
- Well, said rich man, you get more and more money, then one day you buy small boat, then big fishing boat !
- And then ? old man asked again
- You put somebody else to fish for you !
- And I, what shall I do ? old man asked.
Rich man, by now angry, answered
- You can sit by the sea, catch fish and throw it back into water !
Old man said nothing, but caught another fish and threw it into sea.
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I totally disagree. Money cannot at all buy happiness. Money can buy the necessities; money can make you powerful (many people think so)BUT money cannot buy feelings and emotions. Happiness comes from within and I repeat, money has nothing to do with it.
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I agree with Agnieszka simply put above!
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silly they should have spent so much time on such a debate.
even a fool can see that income is important, without income remainning happy needs saintly efforts ! but if one gets so obssed with income and incerasing one’s income, that one starts devoting 10-12-14 hours to work, then he has had it, one has stopped living, one who is not living cannot be happy, inanimate being who cacnot be happy cannot be sad either, but humans if they are not happy, they become sad ! ( or in some rare cases enlightend, neither happy nor sad, but in some kind of bliss in paradise !!? of cours i don’t beielve it, those who claim thus must be cheating, no )
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They say, “Give me the possibility, to assure myself that money won’t make me happy” ;)
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Speaking of the relationship between money and happiness, yesterday a friend and I went to an orphanage, to visit the children from there, as we previously went there two times and they were so glad to welcome us. This year, Christian Orthodox celebrate Easter at the end of April and we thought that a great way to honor Christ’s message of love, light, forgiveness, resurrection and peace would be to share our love with those who need it the most.
I was a little bit embarrassed because previous times we gave them some gifts, sweets, fruit and books but now we were somehow bare-handed because we didn’t have enough money and time to prepare some gifts… But we went anyway, in spite of everything was a strong calling from inside.
And life gave me a great lesson again because to my surprise, they had everything they needed: delicious food, sweets, clothes, toys and they were so, so, so glad to see us, there were many hugs and smiles all around! I understood that the only thing they lacked was affection, unconditional love, to know that people haven’t forgotten about them, that they are loved and cherished! And surprisingly, thanks God, some of them were so changed for the better since the last time we saw them, they were practically blooming! :-) So, changes for the better are all around and it depends only on us what we want to see.
Of course basic needs should be always satisfied but I am convinced that beyond everything else we need love and the joy it brings into our hearts and minds! :-)
We are going to do this more often, and go to other places in need too; even when we don’t have enough money, what we really need is the pure desire to share the love we feel inside, it is about simple things after all… :-) The sweet charm of free hugs :-)
Lots of appreciation and may God bless the whole world with unconditional, spontaneous love!
Carmen Larisa
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food is the fare of the soil
love is the fare of the soul
money is an illusion created by time
each single thing
one wants
cost an equal amount of due time
want less
own more time
for gardening love
carrots, apples and flowers
create order in your verbs
be
have
do
give
behave and do give
love
for peace
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A world without money is possible. The proof we can live with and without.
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Not too tight, not too lose.
The monk Sona came to the Buddha with a question on why he was not having success in his practice, the Buddha answered (adapted from Anguttara Nikaya by Nyanaponika Thera):
“Tell me, Sona, in earlier days were you not skilled in playing stringed music on a lute?”
“Yes, Lord.”
“And, tell me, Sona, when the strings of that lute were too taut, was then your lute tuneful and easily playable?”
“Certainly not, O Lord.”
“And when the strings of your lute were too loose, was then your lute tuneful and easily playable?”
“Certainly not, O Lord.”
“But when, Sona, the strings of your lute were neither too taut nor too loose, but adjusted to an even pitch, did your lute then have a wonderful sound and was it easily playable?”
“Certainly, O Lord.”
“Similarly, Sona, if energy is applied too strongly, it will lead to restlessness, and if energy is too lax, it will lead to lassitude. Therefore, Sona, keep your energy in balance and balance the Spiritual Faculties and in this way focus your intention.”
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A “good war” as some are used to say here, is always a good thing to revive of the economy…
Easterlin Paradox is right in a way. There are truly things that money can buy. Beginning wih happiness.
Maybe more, the poorer person is more willing to find that feeling than a rich person. As poverty guide us to the Elemental Thing, where the Whole exists.
But this would be just looking at the tree, to forget the forest.
We all live in a society that took a special way to distribute needs. People that don’t have money can’t afford themselves or their family. Often, they fall in a kind of depression because they can’t find a way, to have the minimum even; for some. Because they consider the problem in a wrong sight.
First, people don’t have to look for money. This for honest people.
Evil people know how to have without problems, when they wish it.
Between those two cases, is a third person: an honest one, who has money.
That proves us that we could be honest and earn fruit of our work. Though people often believe they don’t deserve anything. Some say the solution is in forgetting to have. Is he happier anyway?
Let’s remember Jesus. Because maybe the way we saw his regard with rich people is too extremist. Of course he came to show us the way to God. And as we know to have a kind of life, we need poverty, ascetism, meditation, errance, suffering, passion…
If Jesus man’s life ended with passion shows us the unlimited way a man can reach. Who could tell another man did?
Or into his royal line?
If people want to live without money, they should become a monk and follow their path, guiding by great persons.
But in the case they have to feed their family, they spend their life, cutting themselves for a real full freedom.
So do we have to think about? Do we have to ask and think always, or don’t think at all? A lot of methods exist nowadays, that face to the religious ideas dealing with compassion, poverty and charity. But Human are not dupe. They feel money as a wrong thing. Money is the destructor of their life, of the world. And there’s no rule to receive. As in love, if we accept it, the door opens.
But there is a thing that may surely take someone to happiness: to realize his dream. Cause, even if the way is frequently thorny, gifts are there richer.
Life rewards good ideas. And during that time, the poor is creating, instead of complaining. He’s happy anyway, because he has his dream in his heart, to his hand.
Still, money is a meaning to do things that rejoice. Life is totally different for a person that can take any plane to go where he likes, than a person that works eat and sleep.
yet it depends on anybody to accept total poverty, prosperity, or medium. Good or bad life.
Although we are responsible for our own life, we are also for others. As some arrive on earth and have only a few days to live…
People dislikes money, and don’t understand it. Indeed, it’s a virtual thing. But all the world is hanged up to its assumed sleeves!
As though, one day emerged an idea, that finally, money was too important on Earth to play blinds.
Well, spirituality is a need as money for a father, as an example. With a lack of money he could dive under the threshold of poverty, but unfortunately often, under the one of dignity.
So money is a meaning, not an aim. Or there would ne no more starving babies.
The aim is the dream. And hapiness will come. Some satisfy themselves without money, as ascetic persons. And do good or evil.
But some want the meaning without thinking. Without asking what is the World’s demands.
Surely, we don’t need all those things, gadgets, objects; some dangerous for ourselves and our heirs.
But we have to think differently.
Not to feel guilty to ask, while we’re creating something that feel good, and deserve some help to be created. But as an help merely, not as a goal. Sometimes a scientist needs money to find a jab. It occurs precisely now in France, and certainly abroad. Without this money he couldn’t save life… That’s why people should leave the guilt with money, when they are doing good. Good people have to evolve in all circles.
No rules to be rich and happy. People can also be “spiritual” and have poor living life, and food. And if all poor heart have fruits to share, no brothers and sisters wouldn’t want anymore. That’s will be equality.
For now, Unite Human conscious melt money with evil. During the time we could create a better world, and share.
People may dream and create it, for good wealth.
Good night.
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I always read this type of articles with a mix of interest and credulity, are they just reporting facts or pushing an agenda of social appease, because by know I assume everyone knows although most do not what to acknowledge that wealth is just an extension of who you are, is like an accessory that either just makes you look good and in that case it does not add much to your essence or fulfills deeper desires, the ones in the realm of the soul , in reality it’s all about who you rely are not what you pretend to be, that’s why one can see so many caricatures in wealthy people.
♡
Milou
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Nothing can bring you joy
but someone’s smile,
nothing can light up your face
but happy eyes,
nothing can move your heart
but touch of hope,
everything only makes sense
if you..love.
love
Agnieszka
[Reply]
Desde luego que sí que la mayor felicidad es compartir con los amigos estupendas cenas aunque sean sencillas serán las más maravillosas porque comeremos con risas y buenas conversaciones.
El dinero no hace la felicidad pero tener lo suficiente ayuda.
Un beso.
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it is of course nice not to have to worry too much what to live off, from day to day… but I think elementary safety in a country counts more.
Rich people in countries where the political and
juridical systems are falling apart, where it is
a danger for your life just to take the bus to your work (and I’m not speaking about Israel here),
where the only children playing on the streets
are the homeless surviving as thieves,
there I think rich people worry more
than what poor people in more safe environments do.
Just a thought,
we take so much for granted,
where in other parts of the world
we live in a paradise.
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And money can never buy friends…can never buy love..
For Love is an untamed force…
For Love is…
And Love is all we need…
Spreading love
Annie
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I believe that someone is pleased with hislife if he follows his dreams..otherwise he is in an invisible prison..whatever things he may buy will never compensate for these dreams…
It is my opinion that once the basic needs are covered, food, a place to sleep, then all you ever need is love..
and it is better to be loved even if sometimes you cant afford a place to sleep…there friends can help you..
Vincent van Gogh said “Do you know what makes the prison disappear? Every deep, genuine affection. Being friends, being brothers, loving, that is what opens the prison, with supreme power, by some magic force. Without these one stays dead. But whenever affection is revived, there life revives.”
Some people i know, when i asked them what is their dream, they answered me “make money”..i didnt like the answer…i believe the person that looks after the money abandons his dreams…or forgets them…and follows the mass…current flow..sometime later in his life he will have made a lot of money but he will have wasted all his life in this purpose..
Sometimes with money you can make a great gesture for someone..but there are so many other ways to show to others that you love them…so so many , inexpensive too!! A kiss, a hug, saying “i love you”, writing a song…
Love
Annie
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