The Economics of Happiness How the Easterlin Paradox Transformed Our
This book presents a panoramic view of the implications from Richard Easterlin’s groundbreaking work on happiness and economics. Contributions in the book show the relevance of the Easterlin Paradox to main areas, such as the relationship between income a
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The Economics of Happiness How the Easterlin Paradox Transformed Our Understanding of Well-Being and Progress
The Economics of Happiness
Mariano Rojas Editor
The Economics of Happiness How the Easterlin Paradox Transformed Our Understanding of Well-Being and Progress
Editor Mariano Rojas FLACSO-México & UPAEP Tlalpan, Ciudad de México, Mexico
ISBN 978-3-030-15834-7 ISBN 978-3-030-15835-4 https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-15835-4
(eBook)
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Foreword: Happiness or GDP?
Since World War II, happiness has moved into the social sciences. Nearly all of the prior literature is in the humanities, going all the way back to Aristotle, though psychology, as in Abraham Maslow’s “hierarchy of needs,” has its foot in the door. This work typically takes off from preconceived ideas about what should make people happy—what makes for “the Good Life.” On this, there are almost as many judgments as judges. Although there is much thought-provoking wisdom in this literature, there is no real evidence about how happy people really are and what does make them happy, which is what the social scientist seeks to know. We now have well-tested data on people’s happiness that provide the basis for scholarly research, as exemplified by the work in this book. I cannot do justice to the depth and breadth of the many fine contributions here. Let me simply say that I am humbled, honored, and grateful to each of the authors. I owe special thanks to Mariano Rojas whose time-consuming efforts brought the volume into existence. In these brief remarks I would like to address an issue of growing urgency as measures of happiness gain increasing at
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