Economists are the new high priests.. So most of serious
politics, and thus our life, revolves
around money.
Economies grow, GDP swells, but once above abject poverty, it makes no difference to citizens' well-being. A case in point- Happiness has not risen in western nations in the last 50 years, despite massive increases in wealth. A nation should not be too obsessed with just economic growth , adjustments must be made to the understanding of what it means to lead a happy and fulfilled life .
Money does matter in various ways. People are measurably happier when paid more. It matters when people of any income feel a drop from what they have become used to. But above all, money makes people unhappy when they compare their own income with others'. Richer people are happier - but not because of the absolute size of their wealth, but because they have more than other people. But the wider the wealth gap, the worse it harms the rest. Rivalry in income makes those left behind more miserable than it confers extra happiness on the winners.
We have been cultivated to want to keep running to get ahead or to at least stay on the same spot - and it’s hard to escape from this condition. Why? In this brutal and competitive world , there is no room for complacency . If we even dare to rest on our own laurels , we risk losing out.
Consequently , we are all caught in the “ Hedonic Treadmill “ .
Economies grow, GDP swells, but once above abject poverty, it makes no difference to citizens' well-being. A case in point- Happiness has not risen in western nations in the last 50 years, despite massive increases in wealth. A nation should not be too obsessed with just economic growth , adjustments must be made to the understanding of what it means to lead a happy and fulfilled life .
Money does matter in various ways. People are measurably happier when paid more. It matters when people of any income feel a drop from what they have become used to. But above all, money makes people unhappy when they compare their own income with others'. Richer people are happier - but not because of the absolute size of their wealth, but because they have more than other people. But the wider the wealth gap, the worse it harms the rest. Rivalry in income makes those left behind more miserable than it confers extra happiness on the winners.
We have been cultivated to want to keep running to get ahead or to at least stay on the same spot - and it’s hard to escape from this condition. Why? In this brutal and competitive world , there is no room for complacency . If we even dare to rest on our own laurels , we risk losing out.
Consequently , we are all caught in the “ Hedonic Treadmill “ .
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