http://www.yale.edu/opa/arc-ybc/v29.n22/story5.html
Please add an intelligent comment (minimum 5 sentences) in response to the linked article. Be sure to use a minimum of one quote in your response. Optional: Comment on a classmate's post in a second post (minimum 3 sentences) *Use only your first name, last initial and class period.
Author Robert Lane discusses a common topic among people today: Money and Happiness. He talks about how many people think that money is the key to happiness. I believe the reason that so many people say that, is because they aren't in the 1% of the population that has more than enough money to support themselves, families, take vacations, and still have a lot of money to spare. That 1% has the money to support themselves but it doesn't mean they're happy. Robert Lane discusses it in more depth: "If you won a lottery or if you get an increase in pay, it does have a momentary, important effect. You feel better. You're happier. That's short term. Very quickly you adjust to that, and the effect is dissipated, in the sense that you've set your standard higher. Actually for long term there is no way that you can show that the rich are systematically happier than the not-so-rich. At least you can't in advanced countries." What he is saying is that money only has a short term euphoric effect. The reason so many people want money, is to support themselves and family and enjoy occasional leisure time. Once one was to get the money to do so, they set their living standard higher, and get bored with it. They want more money, and aren't happy. The rich are only happy for a short time. After that, they want more.
ReplyDeleteTyler M
Period 7
Jonathan B
ReplyDeleteP7
"If you won a lottery or if you get an increase in pay, it does have a momentary, important effect. You feel better. You're happier. That's short term. Very quickly you adjust to that, and the effect is dissipated, in the sense that you've set your standard higher." I feel that if a person were to become extremely wealthy i feel that they would be happy for a short amount of time, like they said in the article. I agree with this thought because not all wealthy people are happy. I've seen people that aren't near wealthy that are happier than the wealthy themselves. I feel that it is more difficult to be happy when your wealthy because you do not have to save for anything, you can pretty much buy whatever you want. With a person that is not so wealthy they have to save up to get something that they want, and when they get enough money to get it they have a feeling of accomplishment which makes them happy. It is very difficult to find happiness in today's economic state. Everything is either really expensive or really inexpensive. This could cause people to become unhappy with themselves.
Cassie Vaccaro; Period 7
ReplyDeleteIn this article named "Professor Lane explains the economics of happiness", has to do with Robert Lane, a Political Scientist. Lane is famous for writing parts of books, and many articles in his lifetime. Lane was a Yale faculty member for 38 hardworking years. He had also held control of presidency of three major political science's, which in my eyes, is pretty darn astonishing work. This specific book that they're discussing in this article is called "The Market Experience" and it has to do with people's happiness, and in the article it says; "I'd like to make that distinction between the less-developed countries and advanced countries. For every increase in average income in the less-developed countries, there is a clear increase in the subjective well-being, happiness or satisfaction of the population" I had to read this quote a couple times to actually understand it but if i could put it in my own words i would say that it means you can have happiness even if you have a less-developed country, and it doesn't matter about the "satisfaction of the population", and you shouldn't worry about what other people have to say. This article made sense to me, and actually it stood out when he said that money only sets a higher standard, and what he means by that is money can only be in your possession for a short amount of time, and that's what he means when he says that its a euphoric effect. The reason so many people want money, is to support themselves and family, and so that they can enjoy occasional leisure from time-to-time. They basically want more money, and aren't happy. The rich are only happy for a short amount of time, not forever. After all there money runs out because they're rich they won't be happy anymore, and in my opinion money shouldn't buy happiness, so i agree with everything that Robert Lane is discussing in this article.
George H P.7
ReplyDeleteMoney can be in many ways rewarding but is it really what makes us as people feel rewarded. Many people feel that money governs their lives. I feel money is a necessary part of life but, it shouldn't be everything to us. Sure money helps make life better with what it can be spent on such as better homes, educations, and fine cuisine but at the same time it causes struggles of hardship through lawsuits, fines, and medical bills. money shouldn't dictate everything in our lives. Happiness can be achieved with a well loving family not a billion dollar salary. Most people are just looking for love and affection but money enters their mind and corrupts it. "It's very clear that the number of friends we have, for example, is a much better indicator of happiness than the number of dollars we have." According to Professor lane, the Eugene Meyer Professor Emeritus of political Science. Its a shock that many people believe money can buy them happiness. In these economic times people refer to the struggle as a depression because no one can solve their crave to spend for happiness. The true answer to solve this so called depression is by talking and hanging with your friends and loved ones then you the depressed commentator may feel a difference in opinion. In my family Money is talked about but, it does not run how happy we are at the time. Maybe one day money will be a thing of the past and people will learn to feel happiness from those around them rather then the objects around them.
Money can be a great thing to have in life whether you win the lottery or not. In life there is a big deal of self importance because you think highly of yourself. The article states "If you won the lottery or if you get an increase pay, it does have a momentary, important effect. You feel better. You're happier." The only problem with this is that the effect is not a very long one. There are countries that are developed but they haven't been very long. Spain is one of those countries ever since World War 2 profit shares in Spain have spiked and have risen to all time highs. This is all true but ever since the Euro slipped Spain has taken the big hits in their economy along with Greece. Spain before the war was a developing nation that was still looking for money and jobs. After the war the Spanish economy started to fluctuate, jobs went on the rise, the housing market soared, and money was coming into the Spanish economy all at once. Happiness in Professor Lane's terms about Happiness being an elusive concept is that "Yes I believe that Happiness is an elusive concept because it is a feeling of subjective well being, also it doesn't always have an objective reference, and it doesn't leave a trail of evidence." To me what Professor Lane is saying is that happiness is a great feeling to have because you can connect to other people, it also doesn't leave any one particular person upset, and you can never be upset about it. Professor Lane also did a study on participant's and their happiness. To me I really agree with that it is a very good thing to do. Professor Lane is good and I agree with what he always has to say.
ReplyDeleteIn the article, Professor Lane tries to explain the correlation between happiness and the amount of money people have. He says that money can only bring you short term happiness. In the first paragraph,Professor Lane says,"If you won the lottery or if you get an increase pay, it does have a momentary, important effect. You feel better. You're happier. That's short term. Very quickly you adjust to that, and the effect is dissipated, in the sense that you've set your standard higher. Actually for long term there is no way that you can show that the rich are systematically happier than the not-so-rich. At least you can't in advanced countries." This quote is summing up the differences between the rich and the not so rich. Rich people are only happy for a short amount of time because they have so much money that they could just buy things to make them happy. But the not-so-rich are happier for a longer period of times because they don't have so much money to bring them happiness but they have the ones they love that bring them happiness. A lot of people think that the key to happiness is to have a lot of money to buy things but it actually isn't. The key to happiness is not money but rather love. Money can bring you happiness but just for a very short time but love can bring you happiness for a very long time. People often think that money is everything but it really isn't. Also, I feel that once people who are rich have all the money they want,they get very unhappy very quick because the lack the basic need of happiness which is love. Eventually if you have to much money you will get bored of it because you know that its there and that you have it. But have you noticed that some rich people tend to be mean and snobby just because they have money? This is probably because all they care about is money and that is all. They probably don't know how to show love because they probably never got it. So, the key to happiness is not money but in fact love.
ReplyDeleteKarisma Patel
Period 7
Money can not buy happiness it can only only buy a good feeling and happy for a short period of time till it wont matter no more. For example their is a very rich millionair but their could be one thing the poor have that he couldnt buy which is a family. A poor person can be poor but still be happier than the millionair just because he/she have a family. Also no matter how rich or poor you are your still going to have points in your lives where your not happy maybe their was a obstacle in your way and you had to overcome. Thats gonna make you less happy but thats only going to be part of life that money cannot fix. But if you want long term happiness your going to have to find that without money and go on a search for it because money can only bring short term happiness.
ReplyDeleteRichard swag Pietruszka
Stephanie Durso Period:7
ReplyDeleteIn this article Professor Lane tries to explain happiness in many countries. He stated many situations when true happiness was achieved. Though he was correct with the happiness that is achieved in developing countries I don’t think it was right to sum up a country’s happiness based off of others. We as humans are unique and that is what makes life work. Some people are not as easily pleased and secure as others. ” People are better people when they're secure, when they're well taken care of and have adequate resources. Once they are plunged into a situation where they're unsure about the next meal, the job or someone they know who is unemployed, they're not at their best. Then you go back to the psychology of the developing countries where money has greater effect on well-being. That's the paradox of my message. I think we should try to stay as prosperous as we can so that we can then engage in and enjoy the nonmaterial parts of life.” I agree that it would be great if everyone can be secure and happy. Although we can’t always be, some days are better than others and something’s bother us at that moment that normally don’t. I understand that Professor Lane thinks that because we are in America we should always be happy and secure. Life doesn’t have security or happiness all the time. Part of life is going with the moment and we can’t always be happy at every moment of the day. I see that Professor Lane wants everyone to reevaluate and be happy, but it’s not an easy fix. Some people are just not happy and secure and for others it depends on the day. Money doesn't buy happiness if your not happy before you have money you won't be happy after you have it.
i believe that what he says about the rich is true, they aren't the happiest. he explains it like life is like a journey they all begin and end the same but what you do on that journey is what matters , in other words if you have everything you have nothing to strive for/work towards and that's a depressing thought. also happiness comes with family,friends, and loving your jobs. believe it or not having a job you enjoy is essential to happiness.the author believes "I think it's the second most important source of well-being." happiness is directly correlated to your job.
ReplyDeleteeddie turlis
p7
Money can not buy happiness it can only only buy a good feeling and happiness for a short period of time till it wont matter no more. For example their is a very rich millionair but their could be one thing the poor have that he couldnt buy which is a family. A poor person can be poor but still be happier than the millionair just because he/she have a family. Also no matter how rich or poor you are your still going to have points in your lives where your not happy maybe their was a obstacle in your way and you had to overcome. Thats gonna make you less happy but thats only going to be part of life that money cannot fix. But if you want long term happiness your going to have to find that without money and go on a search for it because money can only bring short term happiness.
ReplyDeleteRichard Pietruszka
Conor Duffy
ReplyDeletePeriod: 7
“Do you think making money is an important purpose of your life? People who rank in that kind of measure are not happy people.” There are two kinds of people, people who believe money is an important way of life and people who believe money isn’t important at all. I personally think that money is an important way of life. In our modern day society today, the entire world revolves around money. Money brings business, capital, investments, and the average dinner on your table every night. Money is important because it is a necessity in our way of life in how we pay things.
People on the opposite side of the argument give their opinion that money isn’t important in our life. For example, If you lived on the street with your family wishing that you had a home and food on your table. You would wish that you had money. You cannot survive in our life without denying that u like money.
Pat C
ReplyDeletePeriod 7
"Are you happier when you have more goods and services?" "Do you envy people who have better cars?" There are many different types of people, the ones who go all out in the effort to try and make an impact in the world and the community. Then there are those people that try and save all of there money and keep it for their children and grandchildren in the future years to come. They also save up all of there money for things like cars and really nice houses that cost millions of dollars. While the other people are putting there money back into the community and give the money to charities that help out children and adults in second world countries that are in dire need of the money and support.
If i won the lottery or got an increase on money i would be a little happy that i have money now to pay my bills and mortgage on my house. but to me i think money doesn't by your happiness. That's just my opinion because i feel that i'm already happy because i have a roof over my head food in m mouth and a wonderful family out home who loves me for me. so why would i need money to make me happy in my life when im already happy the way my life is
ReplyDeleteI think that based on the article, it really all depends on what you enjoy, that makes you happy. There are some people out there who prefer to stay single, and be able to enjoy having a dream job, and traveling and everything on their own. And then there are others who enjoy having a family, someone to love, and being able to do everything with a significant other. I think people that have more money are MORE happy than others because they have the money to do whatever they want. That doesn't mean that people of a lower class aren't happy. People of a lower class can be VERY happy if they do what they love, or find someone they love. It really all depends on what it is you love doing. I think that being able to do those things you love with a person you love can be a major factor in happiness,"The evidence is quite strong in every study of subjective well being that a good family contributes more to high subjective well-being-happiness, if you like-than anything else, and that doing things with your friends contributes more."
ReplyDeleteChris Dormer
Period 8
I Think that money can only supply us with temporary happiness. Like the article said, if I won the lottery I would eventually adjust to a new style of life. I would start to feel the same type of things I did before. I think this is because we always want more than we have, its part of human nature. We need to appreciate what we have. In the article it says," The evidence us quite strong in every study... a good family life contributes more to high subjunctive well-being - happiness if you would like - then anything else..." Spending time with friends and family is often when we feel happiest. Any one can enjoy the company of others, no matter their social class.
ReplyDeleteJulia Kendzierski
Period 8
I can connect to how the article said that companionship has a direct effect on happiness. At the end of the first page it said,"Its very clear that the number of friends we have, for example, is a much better indicator of happiness than the number of dollars we have". I can honestly say the more i hang out with my friends the happier I am. Whenever I'm with or have recently been around my friends I seem to be in a much better mood. When I'm stuck at my house for a long time and haven't really seen my friends to much I'm often in a bad mood and very cranky. It seems that were biologically programmed to have companionship and interact with people in order to be happy.
ReplyDeleteJack Murray Period 8
Is money important to our lives? For many people, yes it is. But are the rich happier than the not-so-rich? Not in all cases. The article talks about how we measure our happiness by our well-being. So even if you are wealthy, you may not be happy. the article states, " People who rank high in that kind of measure are not happy people. The higher the people on the materialist scale, the lower they are on the happiness scale". I find this a bit shocking, especially because people automatically think the rich are happy. I know I thought that. But money doesn't always bring us happiness. Family and friends are more important. Professor Lane explains, " the evidence is quite strong in every sunject of well-being that a good family life contributes more to a high subjective well being".
ReplyDeleteAmy B
per 8
I believe all humans, being social creatures, are more likely to be highly satisfied with companionship. As Professor Lane states, "It's very clear that the number of friends we have, for example, is a much better indicator of happiness than the number of dollars we have." Though I believe that I, personally, would be just as happy as if I had a million dollars, there's few things that give me the joyful feeling of being with my friends or with a pretty girl. We all need to be in some form of relationship with another human being; this gives us all a feeling that can't be duplicated by a fistful of dollars.
ReplyDeleteAndy C
DeleteP. 8
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI do believe that the rich people aren't always the happiest people. The text mentioned, "If you won a lottery or if you get an increase in pay, it does have a momentary effect." The key word in this is "momentary." When people get a large amount of money they may for a little amount of time but it may no necessarily last. Being rich does not depend on ones happiness, just because you have a lot of money it does not guarantee on to have a lot of friends, it just means they can afford more worthy items than someone else can which does not and should not mean more people will like you. At the end of the day it all matters who you are as a person, not how much money you have, or if you are considered "rich" or not.
ReplyDeleteMarissa G.
Period: 8
In his article, Professor Lane of Yale states, "As income goes up, happiness does not go up." According to Lane, there is an indirect relationship between money and happiness once someone is out of poverty. This is an interesting idea that, after reading the article, I agree with. He also states, "The higher people are on the materialist scale, the lower they are on the happiness scale." Throughout life, I have come in contact with many wealthy people that do not seem to be satisfied. Although they seem to have it all on the outside, like Gatsby for example, it does not necessarily mean they are truly happy. On the other hand, many people that are not lucky enough to have as much money seem to have great spirits and are truly happy with life. One example of this that stands out the most to me is something that happened at a dance team fundraiser; a man, with almost no money gave us one of his last dollars outside of a store that he was in no way required to do while others who could have easily donated avoided conversation and eye contact with us. It was touching that the man was so kind to us.
ReplyDeletePeriod 8
“Do you think making money is an important purpose of your life? People who rank in that kind of measure are not happy people.” I hold that as a true thing because I'm associated with two very rich people and no matter how much money they have they feel like they have avoid in their life and they usually fill that with materialistic things. Which results in a big house and large amount of things they have in their household. And they have a very disconnected family that only wants money from them and they never feel the same way that more poor people have. Poorer people never take things for granted they enjoy spending time with their love ones and their love ones never want money from them or anything materialistic; they just want to be able to spend time with one another and to make each other happy.
ReplyDeleteLauren Andrews
Period 8
I think that money can bring happiness to a current point in life. The reason why i would say that is because then you will have to ? yourself and really ask yourself does people wanna just be in my life because i have money like do they wanna just use me for my money? Also i feel that you can get all the things that you want in life with money but i feel like when people when the lottery or become rich or whatever they don't use their money wisely at all. i quote " actually for long term there is no way you can show that the rich are systematically happier than not-so-rich." Eventually being rich will become boring to you and you will not have nothing to spend your money on anymore once you buy everything that you want it will just become really boring to you. I feel like people that re rich spend money on pointless things maybe they should try to spend money on things that can help people in life like donating money into like a charity or donate money to kids with special needs or that are fighting different diseases and stuff. I mean if i ever became rich i would donate a lot of my money to charities autism kids also kids in needs because i feel bad for kids like that my heart goes out to them i wish that they can live their lives like us and actually have homes and not have to be hungry and stuff. I don't think us kids now a days look at how good we have compare to a lot of other kids that don't have it that good like us. Like some of them don't even have video games cell phones ipods ipads cause their parents cant afford it. We don't realize how good we have it to this day and what a good life we live in.
ReplyDeleteDestanee Gray
Period 8
In my eyes I believe that money truly doesn't buy happiness. There are many of wealthy people out in the world that are very unhappy because they are surrounded by people who love them. In the article it said, "...In every study of subjective well-being that a good family life contributes more to high subjective well-being-happiness..." This quote shows that family and more companionship shows more happiness than money does.
ReplyDeleteOwen K
per 8
In the article, Patrick Lane explains how money only gives someone happiness for a short amount of time. In the article, he states, "If you won a lottery or if you get an increase in pay, it does have a momentary, important effect. You feel better. You're happier. That's short term. Very quickly you adjust to that, and the effect is dissipated, in the sense that you've set your standard higher. Actually for long term there is no way that you can show that the rich are systematically happier than the not-so-rich. At least you can't in advanced countries." Therefore, he explains how if you were to win the lottery, you would feel happy for only a short period time, however, after awhile you would get used to it and it would no longer make you happy. I agree with this statement and believe that money cant always buy you happiness.
ReplyDeleteHarjot Benipal
Period 8
I believe that money does buy happiness but only to an extent. If you are poor and suddenly come into a large amount of money then yes you shall be happy. But if someone was born with all of the money in the world then they might be happy at first then it would slowly decrease. Once you have everything you want and you are content with everything then you are just very happy. But overtime you will get tired of always having everything, especially if you have been doing it since you were a child.
ReplyDeleteNick T
Per 8
i don't think that the rich give everything like happiness u can't buy the happiness by money , i can have a lot of money an can buy everything i wanna even if it expensive or no but happiness i can't buy it , maybe u have illness or something makes u think about it every day make u sad , i can be not rich and have happiness maybe have a good life with my family and my friends . This is my opinion about happiness " important effect. you feel better. you are happier "
ReplyDeleteomar syed
period 8
People are only happy if they have what they need. After that materialistic objects only buy a short burst of happiness. True happiness comes from love and connection with friends and family not connnections with materials that money can buy. So as long as you have enough money to live a comfortable life. happiness is up to you from that point on. it is about what you do that makes you happy not about what you buy. Sure money can buy vacations but that can be an artificial experience.
ReplyDeleteAlec Carlson
In the article, "Professor Lane explains the economics of happiness" author Robert Lane expresses his views on money in relation to happiness. The world today revolves around money. A little thin green and white 6 inch peice of paper rules our entire life. We let it define who we are and how we act. In the article, Proffessor Robert Lane says, "If you won a lottery or if you get an increase in pay, it does have a momentary, important effect. You feel better. You're happier. That's short term. Very quickly you adjust to that, and the effect is dissipated, in the sense that you've set your standard higher." I agree with his statement. It's not that money buys you happiness, but it can buy you things that lead to happiness. I believe that money doesn't buy happiness but it does buy us a sense of security. If we are able to pay our bills and not have to struggle day to day wondering if we're going to make it by. We don't have to constantly worry if we have enough money to pay for this or this. Money gives us a sense of security that everything will work. What gives you that happiness is not having to stress about things. The idea of money has greatly evolved over the years due to our changing economy. Lane states, "It wasn't really until studies in the '60s and '70s in the U.S. that people tried to get an empirical measure of happiness. They used the kind of survey questions I just mentioned. And suddenly psychology, from being a science of illness, becomes in a sense a science of well-being and health -- at least one wing of it is." Now because of our economy, it's impossible to live without money in your pocket. You can't even afford to live in this country without a well paying job. Money doesn't buy happiness but it can give you a sense of security.
ReplyDeleteRobert Lanes article mainly focuses on the economics of happiness. He quoted, “Do you think making money is an important purpose of your life? People who rank in that kind of measure are not happy people.” I agree with this statement because in my opinion I feel as if the more money people have in today's society the more greedy they can become which can also come along with being self centered and selfish. Happiness comes through companionship and true friendships which are long term affects. Buying materialistic things are short term and wealthy people usually tend to spend it on materialistic things because with all of they money they have, they become caught up in it and think to themselves, "I want this this and this." With a lot of money, people are attracted to that which could cause negativity like people becoming surrounded with the wrong crowds. Money does not buy happiness.
ReplyDeleteTatiana Harrison
Period 8
Money is a funny thing in today's society. We let it take over our lives and let money define us as a person. When someone gets paid, that's short term happiness. We're letting a piece of paper control our happiness. In my opinion, nobody should ever let something materialistic control happiness. It comes from within. In the article it says, "He said that happiness is not from economic gain in the material sense, but from what other people think of you. And he was so right. He said it was social esteem, not ease of body and mind. Ambition, he thought, led only to unhappiness. I don't think, given the dominance of the profit motive, that current economists have much faith in that." He is correct in my opinion. Materialistic things shouldn't be defined as happiness when you receive it. He also says, ""If you won a lottery or if you get an increase in pay, it does have a momentary, important effect. You feel better. You're happier. That's short term. Very quickly you adjust to that, and the effect is dissipated, in the sense that you've set your standard higher." This is also correct. There is happiness for that short term moment, then life goes on. Money should never buy happiness.
ReplyDeleteTaylor M
Period 7