Research of happiness usually discover a optimistic correlation between earnings and subjective well-being. Put merely, wealthy folks are usually happier than poor folks.
In fact, correlation by itself doesn’t show causation. Prior to now, I’ve instructed that the optimistic correlation largely displays reverse causation. Joyful personalities are prone to be extra motivated and able to incomes cash.
Lyman Stone just lately directed me to a examine exhibiting that genes linked to larger earnings are related to significantly better psychological well being.
The examine checked out two units of genes, one related to larger ranges of training and one other related to extra earnings for any given stage of training. (Presumably the latter are linked to different traits, resembling work ethic, self-control, ambition, charisma, prudence and different qualities which are helpful in incomes more cash.)
To be clear, I’m not suggesting that cash has no impression on happiness. Quite, I imagine the impression is pretty small, and that a lot of the noticed correlation between wealth and happiness comes from the truth that sure varieties of individuals are each extra prone to turn out to be wealthy and extra prone to have blissful personalities.
I’ve spent a number of years in every of the 5 main earnings quintiles, and I’ve by no means observed any impression on my happiness from shifting to a unique earnings class. My happiness stage appears to mirror my innate character, not my earnings.
PS. For many years, philosophers have debated the query of happiness. What’s it? At age 69, I really feel like I’ve lastly found the reply.
