10 April 2008

News Flash: Money Does Buy Happiness

At least, economist Angus Deaton thinks so. But he also believes that a focus on happiness may do more harm than good, particularly in emerging countries.

A GMJ Q&A with Angus Deaton
Dwight D. Eisenhower Professor of International Affairs and Professor of Economics and International Affairs at the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs and the Economics Department at Princeton University
Economist Angus Deaton thinks so -- or at least, money can buy you a more valued life. But he also believes a focus on happiness may do more harm than good, particularly in emerging countries. He also wonders if foreign aid -- both social and financial -- to emerging countries might be harmful. Read this very provocative conversation.

The content you are attempting to access is for subscribers to the Gallup Management Journal. You can subscribe by choosing the GMJ as one of your subscription selections under My Account. If you are already a subscriber, please log in.
Login
Subscribe
Reader Comments
Steven Di Pietro on 4/11/2008 4:48:45 PM

The issue with happiness and life satisfaction is not whether one leads to the other, but whether one defines the other. People satisfied with life are happy (otherwise by definition you wouldn't be happy). The problem is this; you cannot chase happiness. Things like money, family and joy are mere enablers of happiness, not the end result. They are the fuel to get you there. Once a car is full of fuel, you cannot add more. Money is the same because you get to a point where it no longer contributes.

Please Login to Comment
Subscribe To GMJ

Gallup Summit Fall 2009

The Gallup Summit Fall 2009 provides leaders with the opportunity to learn best practices and discuss the crucial issues that affect maximizing performance in their organizations. It also offers organizations the opportunity to benchmark their management practices against the world's best.

The Gallup Summit Fall 2009 will take place September 15-17, 2009, in Washington, D.C. To learn more about the event or to register, visit the Gallup Summit Fall 2009 page on the Gallup Consulting Web site, or contact Mary Penner-Lovci (212.548.2940) or Krista Volzke (402.938.6001).

For a complete schedule of learning opportunities, visit the Gallup Learning Events page.

Copyright © 2009 Gallup, Inc. All rights reserved.
Gallup®, A8, Business Impact Analysis, CE11®, Clifton StrengthsFinder®, the 34 Clifton StrengthsFinder theme names, Customer Engagement Index, Drop Club®, Emotional Economy, Employee Engagement Index, Employee Outlook Index, Follow This Path, Gallup Brain®, Gallup Consulting®, Gallup Management Journal®, GMJ®, Gallup Press®, Gallup Publishing, Gallup Tuesday Briefing®, Gallup University®, HumanSigma®, I10, L3, PrincipalInsight, Q12®, SE25, SF34®, SRI®, Strengths Spotlight, Strengths-Based Selling, StrengthsCoach, StrengthsFinder®, StrengthsQuest, TeacherInsight, The Gallup Path®, and The Gallup Poll® are trademarks of Gallup, Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. These materials are provided for noncommercial, personal use only. Reproduction prohibited without the express permission of Gallup, Inc.