The researchers focused on a question that philosophers, economists and sociologists have been tackling for decades: Can money buy happiness?

For most people in the United States, the answer seems to be yes. However, does the same thing happen on the part of researchers?

Two eminent researchers, Daniel Kahneman and Matthew Killingsworth, ultimately reached the same conclusion in a joint study published this month in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, overturning the prevailing view that people get happier and happier until their income reaches $75,000 a year. If this percentage increases, nothing seems to change in their well-being..

But in 2021, Killingsworth, a researcher and senior fellow at the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, found that happiness does not have a “ceiling” of $75,000, but $200,000.

Does happiness have a “ceiling” of a certain amount of money?

The researchers of the two theories decided to “join forces” to finally find out what is true and whether happiness is limited by the amount of money or not.

In their new study, two researchers placed under a “microscope” 33,391 adults aged 18 to 65; who live in the United States, work, and report a household income of at least $10,000 per year.

To measure their happiness, participants were asked to report their feelings at random times throughout the day using a dedicated smartphone app called Track Your Happiness.

The study drew two main conclusions: first, that happiness continues to grow along with income, even if it has increased significantly – and secondly, that money brings happiness.

However, the researchers also found that a lot of money did not get rid of misfortune.

In particular, about 20% of the participants felt less unhappy earning more money, but only up to a certain point, so that negative feelings did not disappear due to their wealth.

Most people feel happier and happier when they make more money.

“The exception is financially wealthy but unhappy people (for example, those who have suffered a loss or are depressed). For example, if a person is rich but unhappy, then big money will not help him“, said one of the two researchers, Killingsworth, concluding that “money is not the secret to happiness, but it can probably help a little“.

Source: Washington Post.