The folks of Freakonomics, in their pursuit of explaining today's world through economic analysis, have recently done a 5-part series on the link between happiness and income on their blog. The 5 parts can be found here, here, here, here and here (another part is due to be posted on their website tomorrow)
The consumed guide book that accompanies our series cites a Newsweek article that claims increased income does not increase happiness. The Freakonomics studies attempt to prove exactly the opposite. They claim that as income increases happiness/life satisfaction increases as well (Though tucked at the end of part 5 is an interesting section on how the US doesn't necessarily fit the model as neatly as other countries). Admittedly, the discrepancy between these two articles (which seem to show trends in research) is more an issue of how researchers design their studies and interpret the resulting data than it is of who's right and who's wrong.
But I think it brings up interesting issues, especially since we are a culture that prizes science and scientific findings. What are the effects of a study such as that done by the Freakonomics economists? Does their study contribute to a sense that Americans are justified in pursuing wealth because it will make them happy? What if you don't believe that money doesn't make people happy? How do you argue with conclusions that come in scientific packaging?
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I tried to post this yesterday and it didn't post, so I'll try again. Hopefully it's not somewhere else on the blog....
I took a quick look at the links and my initial thought was that the definition of "happy" is rather vague and relative. If they mean happy in the selfish and immature way that most of our culture behaves, then they're probably right. Consumerism produces a pretty big high that people can just exist on from purchase to purchase -- constantly feeding it and constantly consuming more. They're filling their lives with fleeting happiness.
However, as a Christian I'm not looking for that kind of "happiness" but rather I'm looking for contentment and joy, which is much more fulfilling. Most people don't begin to look for that until they've looked at the bigger picture of life, and most people don't take time to look at the bigger picture of their lives because they're too busy buying stuff.
As a result, they believe that they are happy, or at least they believe that happiness is an important emotional state to live in (our very own country is founded on the idea that every person has the right to pursue happiness their entire lives). So, when they answer surveys they say that they are really happy -- either because they are in that sense or because they are in denial over the lack of joy and purpose in their lives.
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