Illusion of happiness

Illusion of contentment

Incidence

People in the USA are, in 1993, on average four-and-a-half times richer than their great-grandparents. Compared to their parents in 1950, people in the USA in 1993, on average, owned twice and many cars and drive 2.5 times as far each year. In 1987, the number of shopping centres in the USA (32,563) surpassed the number of high schools. Only 6% of Americans earning more than $50,000 a year believe they have achieved the American Dream, compared with 5% of those earning less than $15,000 a year.

Claim

Overconsumption does not make people happy. Once they have "enough" for a comfortable life, more is not necessarily better. Reduced consumption can bring greater freedom and fulfilment.