This just in…money doesn’t buy happiness

Last month I heard an interview with Daniel Gilbert, author of Stumbling on Happiness. This book immediately went on my must-read list (haven’t read it yet) because Gilbert gave some intriguing ideas about how most of the things from which we expect happiness fail to provide it, and how we blindly sacrifice real happiness now for imaginary happiness later.

One of Gilbert’s points was about money. Going from $4,000 to $40,000 in annual income certainly increases happiness for most people because basic needs are met. But going on up to $400,000 or $4 million doesn’t make a predictable difference. I.e., money can buy happiness, but only to a point.

A new study called “The Happy Planet Index” confirms it, by comparing happiness v. Gross Domestic Product in 233 nations. Economic and consumerist giants like the U. S., Japan and Germany are unhappy places (the U. S. ranked #150) while the happiest place in the world is Vanuatu, a tiny South Pacific island nation (well, sure!).

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July 19, 2006 · Filed Under Books, Life

Comments

One Response to “This just in…money doesn’t buy happiness”

  1. bartlmay on July 19th, 2006 10:50 pm

    If going from $4,000 annual to $40000 annual makes people more happy because their needs are being met, is it insanity to be happy when your income goes from $40,000 to $4000?

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