Happiness, habits and high rank: Comparisons in economic and social life

Andrew Clark

PSE Working Papers from HAL

Abstract: The role of money in producing sustained subjective well-being seems to be seriously compromised by social comparisons and habituation. But does that necessarily mean that we would be better off doing something else instead? This paper suggests that the phenomena of comparison and habituation are actually found in a variety of economic and social activities, rendering conclusions regarding well-being policy less straightforward.

Keywords: comparison; habituation; income; unemployment; marriage; divorce; health; religion; policy (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2008-11
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-evo, nep-hap, nep-hpe and nep-ltv
Note: View the original document on HAL open archive server: https://shs.hal.science/halshs-00586049v1
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (16)

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Related works:
Working Paper: Happiness, Habits and High Rank: Comparisons in Economic and Social Life (2016)
Working Paper: Happiness, Habits and High Rank: Comparisons in Economic and Social Life (2016)
Working Paper: Happiness, Habits and High Rank: Comparisons in Economic and Social Life (2012)
Working Paper: Happiness, Habits and High Rank: Comparisons in Economic and Social Life (2011)
Working Paper: Happiness, habits and high rank: Comparisons in economic and social life (2008)
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