"Money does not buy happiness, but it helps." Although often dismissed, this relationship between money and happiness is the subject of a conference Professor Bruno S. Frey. It is objectively analyze the relevance of the latter.
The rich are happier than the poor? According to recent studies statistics, re correlation between income and satisfaction is a positive move. High income provides a catalog because of wider choice to the holder and gives it a higher social status. However, this relationship appears nonlinear. The concavity of the curve reveals then diminishing marginal utility of additional money in terms of additional satisfaction. To explain this phenomenon, a first possibility is the need to comparison individuals. They are happier and therefore improve their financial conditions relative to their peers. An overall enrichment of the population does so no gain in terms of happiness. I his is therefore consider money from a relative point of view and not absolute.
Note that the analyzed e co nduite above occurs ceteris paribus , that is to say, holding constant the other variables with the exception tion of income. Considering a time horizon, the relationship is fundamentally different because the state of satisfaction of individuals remains constant since the '50s. This observation may seem surprising at first because incomes have risen sharply over the same period. For illustration, Japan's GDP has multiplied by 6 between 1958 and 1991. The explanation of a change in population can be rejected with statistical methods conducted. Moreover, while some countries (Denmark, Italy, Germany) had a weak positive relationship, other studies show a slightly negative relationship for the United States. A possible explanation lies in the adjustment process led by individuals. Satisfaction lies in the change as well. As it is only transitory, the marginal gain disappears thereafter. The consumption of additional goods and services can not therefore contribute to a continuous increase in the state of satisfaction related to its existence.
What about the state of satisfaction around the world? All things being equal, it appears that people living in richer countries experience a higher state of satisfaction relative to their counterparts in less economically efficient. However, the positive relationship fades to approach a certain threshold (about $ 10,000). Several issues deserve to be raised, mainly in the field of statistics. Thus, advanced countries of economically have democratic institutions with a higher stability. Similarly, the more wealth increases, the health of the population improves. A similar analysis can be conducted regarding the safety of the fundamental rights of human beings. These hidden variables must therefore always be taken into consideration with a view to obtain reliable conclusions. In the same register, the question of causality between money and happiness deserves further. Indeed, it is possible to imagine that a population more Happy will be more inclined to work and do so more effectively.
The recipe for happiness does not represent, however, leave through a simple linear regression. Many variables and interactions between them are indeed leading to the explanation of a fraction of the observed variance. Analysis ceteris paribus however, allow to study the influence of some important variables in the discussions currently conducted within our societies. The experience of unemployment become so catastrophic in terms of the state of satisfaction of individuals. However, it is smoothed by the mass phenomena. Indeed, the fact that other individuals are placed under the same conditions brings some comfort. Again, the study of meaning of causality deserves reflection. An unhappy person is indeed likely to show less motivation to work, increasing the likelihood of dismissal. Again, the methods used by researchers result in the rejection of that hypothesis.
What about cultural differences? While it is true that happiness is not expressed in the same way in all cultures, the marginal effect of the variation of a variable has an effect in a similar direction (the magnitude of the effect being different). This phenomenon, however, requires caution in the comparisons.
Ultimately, note that the observations presented above are aimed at better understanding the current variables to explain happiness. It is by no provide any recipe for happiness. As previously mentioned, the analysis presented are conducted ceteris paribus while the pursuit of happiness requires the combination of all influential variables. The number of children, grades or circle of friends, all these variables are also crucial in defining the state de satisfaction d'un individual. Le bonheur se revele ainsi avant tout une question personnelle, à laquelle chacun tente jour après jour de trouver une meilleure réponse que la veille.
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