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Economists and the Blooming Obvious

Apparently trying to keep up with the Jonses makes us unhappy – what a surprise. From the Daily Telegraph:

One study claims that workers who constantly compare their earnings with colleagues and friends feel less satisfied with their lives, because it makes them focus on what they haven’t got.

Meanwhile separate research presented at the Royal Economic Society’s annual conference has found that suicide levels are higher in wealthier areas, suggesting that being surrounded by rich neighbours can make people so unhappy that they decide to end their lives.

The first report concluded: “Man may well be a social animal, but constantly looking over one’s shoulder seems to make the world a less happy, and more unequal, place.”

The report, carried out by Andrew Clark and Claudia Senik at the Paris School of Economics, found that 75 per cent of Europeans believe income comparisons to be important.

Poorer people are more likely to compare their salaries with those around them than the rich, the economists claim.

However their analysis of a range of surveys found that employees who are obsessed by what their co-workers earn are less likely to be happy with their lives.

What next? Survey shows that the Pope is a Catholic?

One reply on “Economists and the Blooming Obvious”

I am extremely saddened today to hear of the death of David Kellerman.
So far, we can only surmise it had to do with economic worries.
After reading part way through the book, Unchristian by David Kinnaman, I am thinking about how much we Christians need to let Jesus’ agape love flow through us to people in ALL walks of life.
What if that vibrant man died because of money? What a waste. The well-off people today need some Christians around them too who will be there to try to help them find meaning beyond Wall Street and the economy.
I am just really sad and sorry for the Kellerman family. May God comfort them and heal their sorrow.

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