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BurningFrogyesterday at 7:40 PM10 repliesview on HN

It's well known since ancient times that money doesn't buy happiness.


Replies

darth_avocadoyesterday at 8:05 PM

That’s just what people with money tell the people without money to stop them from rioting. We have research that suggests that money indeed does buy happiness.

https://knowledge.wharton.upenn.edu/article/does-money-buy-h...

There are exceptions of course. Some people are just predisposed to being unhappy no matter the circumstances, but generally speaking more money directly correlates to increased life contentment.

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voxlyesterday at 7:43 PM

And it only takes an ounce more wisdom to recall this phrase: "Money can't buy happiness, but it helps."

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snovymgodymyesterday at 8:35 PM

Maybe not, but poverty definitely causes unhappiness

peacebeardyesterday at 7:48 PM

Money doesn’t buy happiness but it does buy groceries, day care, car insurance, etc.

ambicapteryesterday at 7:55 PM

Not if you pop in to the HN thread for that article, funnily enough.

lamaseryyesterday at 8:13 PM

It sure as shit buys relief from lots of sources of stress (even little ones like "having, non-optionally, to track how many dollars of goods are in your shopping cart at the grocery store" or "having to check how much money's in the account before you start pumping gas") and credible safety from various very-real threats (e.g. homelessness, not being able to afford important medical treatment). Like, it's extremely good at that.

It buys actual non-hypothetical liberty, as in greater choice to do what you like with your time and your self. It relieves one from unpleasant but necessary tasks (by paying someone else to do them).

gedyyesterday at 7:51 PM

Maybe but this happiness chart seems to reflect economic recessions (including some unofficial ones)

testing22321yesterday at 8:23 PM

The thing is that Americans don’t have much money. A few billion and millionaires skew the numbers horribly.

The average American ain’t doing very well by OECD standards… literally bottom of the ladder.

sdevonoesyesterday at 7:50 PM

And little money buys even less. What’s your point?

vonneumannstanyesterday at 7:59 PM

Not really the standard line anymore. https://knowledge.wharton.upenn.edu/article/does-money-buy-h...