Wealth & unhappiness

[abc]

Enough of Bush.

I just started reading a book called "Britain on the couch". It claims that half of the population (of UK) is unhappy at any given time now, which is several times more than it was in the 50-s. Having in mind the population's average wealth and relative opportunities have increased a lot, obviously there's no positive correlation between happiness and wealth. This is consistent with this year's world-wide survey on happiness, which claimed the happiest people lived in Bangladesh.
Your view?

[God himself]

I would imagine most Bangladeshis would disagree with that survey.

[Old Mike]

As a great philosopher, Sophie Tucker, knew, "I've been rich. I've been poor. Rich is better."

[rubicond]

I don't think that having more opportunities make people happier.

Same with money. If you live in a society/country/community where nobody has anything, you take it for granted, and don't wish as much. If you live in a society/country/community where some people have a lot (and you see it every day on telly) but you have much less than them (as most people in the UK) you are unhappy.

I believe that survey is as precise as it gets with a survey.

[This message has been edited by rubicond (edited 27-09-2005).]

[abc]

The writer of the book also thinks the comparisons are major factor - by comparing to the "stars" in a field and to those who put no effort but are just a little behind.
He also thinks parental pressure (to excel at school for example) or bad upbringing (divorces...) are the other major factor. He claims unconcious way to express this unhappiness are diets, shopping, frequent visits to the Four Floors and SPG huntintg (ie "promiscuity"), agression ...

re: surveys
I did not say I take the book or that survey as something precise. They just give insight on a point of view on life.
I find it interesting. Kind of like "simple people go to heaven".