Can Money Buy Happiness?
Can Money Buy Happiness?
Introduction
Over the years, there have been heated debates on whether money can buy happiness. Majority argue that money cannot, by all means, buy happiness. However, a considerable body of economic researchers thinks otherwise. Different studies seem to agree, that to a certain extent, money can buy happiness. Therefore, it appears that money can buy happiness, to some extent if used appropriately. In order to be able understand how money, as an item of exchange, can buy happiness, it is important to understand what happiness stands for. Happiness, as defined by Kesebir and Diener (2008) “is a state of well-being, a pleasurable or satisfying experience”. With this definition, there is great possibility for money to buy or significantly relate to happiness but not joy. There is …show more content…
Indeed, even though the real income has drastically surged in the recent times, happiness levels have maintained flatness within the developed nations across time. One of the most intriguing explanations for such counterintuitive finding is that people often pour their accumulated wealth into pursuits that offer little in the way of lasting happiness, such as purchasing expensive cars and missions. In what seem to be ironical, the potential of money to boost the level of happiness may be subverted by type of choices that thinking about money promotes; the mere thought of having money make individuals less likely to aid acquaintances, to make donation to charity, or to choose time to spend with others, generally the kind of behaviors that are primly associated with happiness (Dunn, Aknin & Norton, 2008). At the same time, even though the thinking about money may suppress pro-social behavior, many can offer suitable vehicle for meeting such pro-social
Introduction
Over the years, there have been heated debates on whether money can buy happiness. Majority argue that money cannot, by all means, buy happiness. However, a considerable body of economic researchers thinks otherwise. Different studies seem to agree, that to a certain extent, money can buy happiness. Therefore, it appears that money can buy happiness, to some extent if used appropriately. In order to be able understand how money, as an item of exchange, can buy happiness, it is important to understand what happiness stands for. Happiness, as defined by Kesebir and Diener (2008) “is a state of well-being, a pleasurable or satisfying experience”. With this definition, there is great possibility for money to buy or significantly relate to happiness but not joy. There is …show more content…
Indeed, even though the real income has drastically surged in the recent times, happiness levels have maintained flatness within the developed nations across time. One of the most intriguing explanations for such counterintuitive finding is that people often pour their accumulated wealth into pursuits that offer little in the way of lasting happiness, such as purchasing expensive cars and missions. In what seem to be ironical, the potential of money to boost the level of happiness may be subverted by type of choices that thinking about money promotes; the mere thought of having money make individuals less likely to aid acquaintances, to make donation to charity, or to choose time to spend with others, generally the kind of behaviors that are primly associated with happiness (Dunn, Aknin & Norton, 2008). At the same time, even though the thinking about money may suppress pro-social behavior, many can offer suitable vehicle for meeting such pro-social