Can't Buy Me Happiness

According to the Washington Post, social scientists are concluding that more money does not equal more happiness:

A wealth of data in recent decades has shown that once personal wealth exceeds about $12,000 a year, more money produces virtually no increase in life satisfaction.

The journal Science reported last week yet more evidence and another theory about why wealth does not make people happy: "The belief that high income is associated with good mood is widespread but mostly illusory," one of its studies concluded. "People with above-average income . . . are barely happier than others in moment-to-moment experience, tend to be more tense, and do not spend more time in particularly enjoyable activities."

While all this makes sense and is welcome news, I question the $12,000 figure, since I've seen elsewhere that an income of that size won't get you a decent place to live, just about anywhere in the US. With the current insane real estate market, it sure won't pay for a house. However, this study spells out what they mean:

"The problem is that once people get past the level of poverty, money does not play a significant role in day-to-day happiness," says Alan Krueger, the Princeton prof who authored the study. So we're talking a realistic minimum wage.

In fact, the study noted, data from the Department of Labor show that the more money people have, the less likely they are to spend time doing certain kinds of enjoyable things that make them happy. High-income individuals are often focused on goals, which can bring satisfaction. But working toward achievements is different from experiencing things that are enjoyable in themselves , such as close relationships and relaxing leisure activities.

Shocking, isn't it? Because it runs contrary to the omnipresent and omnipotent "Buy more and be happy" mantra that our entire commercial culture has brainwashed us with, led by the constantly induced anxiety nurtured by advertising. Along with the corporately defined aura of achievement, the narcotic of competition, the golden treadmill. Which is also why this is going to be a one-day story, a back of the book oddity, an anchorette chuckle at the end of the daily dismal.

It is worth pointing out as well that the report of the study says nothing about other non-work activities, such as helping others, reading or otherwise acquiring knowledge unrelated to job, or communing with the natural world (which may be re-creation, but not always recreation) and various spiritual pursuits, meditation, care of the soul---most of what those in the past advised would engender human happiness.

So save the link. And be in the moment.