Not happier at all

I see what you're saying. However, the research stacks up pretty well: all the GDP, productivity, wealth, etc. is *not* making people happier. If it isn't, what's the point in the higher GDP? Indeed, if generating that higher GDP costs time and money, one might be happier with *lower* GDP.

I should add that hedonic adaptation (happiness not improving significantly despite significant increases in material wealth) is not something unique to the US but an apparently global phenomenon.

This is really worth pondering not just as an abstract issue but as something that has direct relevance to all of us. How should we live our lives? Ultimately, what will make us happy? For most of us, once we get above a certain level of income, it's not about the money. Of course, most people *do* think it's about the money and that's why people aren't getting happier - they have for the past few decades focused on something that does not increase wellbeing.

Suss

 

You left out debt.

 

Voodoo-King what you said about Norway is interesting.

I am British and live in the UK, however I work in Norway and have been commuting to Norway to work for the last 12 years.

Norwegian people are by far the most grounded people I have ever experienced, generally; there seem to be no significant class differences, people seem to be very content, people enjoy & take pride in their work and family is No.1. There is an abundance of positive attitude.
The workplace in Norway is a very different place to most other places, generally workers are not stressed/overworked/underpaid, seldom is a voice raised in anger, the manager does not rule by force and group discussion & decision is the normal.

Compared to the majority of the world, the UK has a high standard of living. I love living in the UK and would not live anywhere else, since it is my home.
However, when I compare the two countries; the standard of living in the UK is a lot lower than in Norway.
A low standard of living leads to negative attitude.
As soon as I step off the plane in the UK, the differences in the Norwegian and British Psyche is tangible, it is in peoples eyes; Poverty, stress, bitterness, unhappiness, jealousy and laziness.
I do not blame us British for any bad attitude, since if you treat people badly then they will probably become negative.

I suspect that a history of Norwegian Socialist Governments, Norwegian Socialist attitudes, an excellent welfare state, large hydrocarbon resources and high tax revenues go a large way towards making Norway the way it is.

Norwegians have little to be angry about!

 

I totally agree with this. I constantly find my expectations rising. for instance, a few years ago before I started working full time, I considered myself very happy because I had small items like my guitar. But now I find myself unhappy because I dont have a car and my own place. But i know that after i do find my first car, I'm going to want a better one, and the list will just get bigger and more extravagant - we're never happy with what we've got.

Thanks for the interesting read - I'm not from an economics background, but I found your post easy to understand.

 

lol..

 

Nothing to be angry about? Whenever I open a newspaper my blood starts boiling. I’m starting to think it’s a big joke, how can “educated” people be so constantly wrong. It’s so predictable. Every article is written to rally people to support even more government. No hope in sight. Voting is a joke. There are seven major parties. Some are supposed to be pro market and individualism but they all contradict each other in their own unique way ending up supporting the same socialistic cause. Right does not exist.

I was in London last year, and I have to say unhappiness was absolutely not what I saw. If living standards are so much higher here, why do we live in boring squared boxes with no details when all the buildings and places in London is a lot more beautiful?

 

This thread interests me, as, I am strongly considering moving out of the US.. Ultimately, after a suggestion from a fellow ETer I have decided to retire to Malta.. The place just captivates me..

In the meantime, I am considering moving to Panama. I have spoken with a few people who live there and who frequently take trips there and they had nothing but the greatest things to say.

People are just absolutely miserable here in FL. I'm guessing they are just living in fear and letting their outrageous debt stress them out.

Thankfully I am progressively improving my trading results and that is opening up opportunities all over the world..

Any other suggestions as to where to move to outside the US??

 

lol the grass is always greener on the other side.

If I had started trading with more than 0 I would have left this place already. I think I eventually have to find out if the US really is such a bad place to live.

 

Yesterday after got in a good workout at the gym, I got my laundry done, did my grocery shopping, cleaned my apartment took a nap and went out for a few drinks with my friends I was happy. This morning I was awakened by the sound of my cat vomitting hairballs across my living room, I was unhappy. The really odd part about the emotional roller coaster I've been on the last two days is that I never once checked GDP to see whether or not I was feeling the appropriate amount of happiness. If your happines depends on GDP, you've got a problem that GDP will never fix. (BTW, when GDP numbers are revised do you become retroactively more or less happy?)

 

The environment does not matter. If u can’t be happy in prison u can’t be happy period. If I suddenly realized my prison cell really was bigger than I thought, and I was served steaks when I thought I was eating cat food that would not make a difference at all. Seriously GDP is just a measure of the general level of consumption choices the average person have in a society. Some might appreciate these possibilities, others will probably be more happy in a shared misery place.