Comments on: After All, Maybe Money Does Buy Happiness? http://blog.arnavsheth.net/2008/05/04/after-all-maybe-money-does-buy-happiness/ Reality-based macroeconomics, finance and more. Sat, 14 Aug 2010 17:00:43 +0000 hourly 1 By: Jonathan Yee http://blog.arnavsheth.net/2008/05/04/after-all-maybe-money-does-buy-happiness/comment-page-1/#comment-192 Jonathan Yee Tue, 08 Jul 2008 20:45:16 +0000 http://teaching.arnavsheth.net/?p=139#comment-192 The meaning of happiness in this study has been framed around the ability to live rather than whatever philosophical meaning happiness has. It seems pretty intuitive and logical, that eating mud pie, fearing of corrupt governments and the many plethoras of situations that go along with the third world, it’s pretty obvious that people in those countries are not going to be particularly satisfied with their lives if their lives are in a constant state of uncertainty (some might say danger or vulnerability). What exactly do people in the developed countries have to be “sad” about? How comparable of a study is this, if it ignores that the playing field for “happiness” is not equal across the board. Saying that GDP is a sign of happiness doesn’t really address the surrounding issues of why the GDP is low, or why the GDP continues to be low. For most people this “hippy” mentality doesn’t exist, most people are not embracing this asceticism but are struggling to obtain some kind of means to provide basic sustenance for themselves, which many people around the world do not possess. For all these reasons I’m not so sure how insightful this article is. The meaning of happiness in this study has been framed around the ability to live rather than whatever philosophical meaning happiness has. It seems pretty intuitive and logical, that eating mud pie, fearing of corrupt governments and the many plethoras of situations that go along with the third world, it’s pretty obvious that people in those countries are not going to be particularly satisfied with their lives if their lives are in a constant state of uncertainty (some might say danger or vulnerability).

What exactly do people in the developed countries have to be “sad” about? How comparable of a study is this, if it ignores that the playing field for “happiness” is not equal across the board. Saying that GDP is a sign of happiness doesn’t really address the surrounding issues of why the GDP is low, or why the GDP continues to be low.

For most people this “hippy” mentality doesn’t exist, most people are not embracing this asceticism but are struggling to obtain some kind of means to provide basic sustenance for themselves, which many people around the world do not possess. For all these reasons I’m not so sure how insightful this article is.

]]> By: Li Chang http://blog.arnavsheth.net/2008/05/04/after-all-maybe-money-does-buy-happiness/comment-page-1/#comment-190 Li Chang Sun, 06 Jul 2008 06:54:10 +0000 http://teaching.arnavsheth.net/?p=139#comment-190 I found this article to be quite interesting, however, I was not too surprised with the results. Granted that most individuals have access to health care and education, there is not too much of a jump in happiness levels among those who make 50k versus those who make 500k. However, when it comes to countries, there obviously will be higher levels of happiness with those with higher GDP. Of course, this also depends on the type of government the country has. More socialistic governments obviously will increase general happiness levels among all types of people since the basic needs will be taken care of via government services. However, capitalistic governments will not show as great results across the board since there will be many haves and have-nots. Overall, as long as the main necessities of a human is satisfied, such as the bottom level of Maslow's hierarchy, there is not much of a gain in happiness through tons of money. After all, humans are social/group animals, and we thrive through interaction through others. I found this article to be quite interesting, however, I was not too surprised with the results. Granted that most individuals have access to health care and education, there is not too much of a jump in happiness levels among those who make 50k versus those who make 500k. However, when it comes to countries, there obviously will be higher levels of happiness with those with higher GDP. Of course, this also depends on the type of government the country has. More socialistic governments obviously will increase general happiness levels among all types of people since the basic needs will be taken care of via government services. However, capitalistic governments will not show as great results across the board since there will be many haves and have-nots. Overall, as long as the main necessities of a human is satisfied, such as the bottom level of Maslow’s hierarchy, there is not much of a gain in happiness through tons of money. After all, humans are social/group animals, and we thrive through interaction through others.

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