Can money buy you happiness?

Money can't buy you love. But it may be able to buy you happiness.

The New York Times breaks down the argument. Make sure you look at this excellent graphic. Unsurprisingly, it's the Scandinavian countries that lead the pack.

Alice Fishburn

Comments

[Jo]

The point is that basic needs aren't met in places like Tanzania - so life isn't very much fun!

The second point is that if you live in Denmark (which is richer and better run than say the UK), would an extra 30 thousand pounds make you even happier? Not necessarily. There are other ways to be happy (see below for a one).

If you live in Tanzania, are the poorest people also the unhappiest? Not necessarily. Some will take advantage of non-monetary opportunities to be add a little joy to their lives.

How to be happy? One way is to vote, would you believe! The Economist reported a study from Switzerland, some years back, showing that people who vote regularly (the Swiss vote directly on every Act of Parliament) are happier than those who don't!

So get to it. Harass your MP this weekend. Walk the dog. Buy a good book. Help out a friend. . .

It's a darned sight easier to be happy though when you aren't worried by money. The positive psychologists have gone a long way in the last ten years figuring out how we do it.