July 31 2017
A study published last week in the scientific journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences would prove that the rich are happier than the others … On condition that they use their money to buy time!
Buying time makes you happier than buying goods
Researchers from the University of British Columbia (UBC) and students from Harvard Business School analyzed the well-being felt by humans according to how they spend their money. Balance sheet: the happiest people would be those who spend their money to delegate the accomplishment of time-consuming daily tasks.
To reach this conclusion, the researchers relied on seven different surveys conducted on more than 6,000 people. An experiment on a hundred individuals was also carried out in Vancouver (Canada). The latter received 40 dollars for several weeks. The first week, they were to use this amount to buy material goods. The second week they spent it on utility services. When spending their money to free up time, the participants in this experience were more relaxed and happier.
Hyperactivity has a certain social prestige
Employing a cleaning lady, a babysitter, or leaving your shirts in the laundry would therefore be more satisfying ways of spending money than buying material goods. However, people who choose to invest their money for the purchase of household services are much rarer than those who spend it on acquiring material goods.
According to Ashley Whilans, the psychologist and study coordinator, “ it is well known that people are always very bad at making decisions likely to make them happier “. According to the study, this choice could also be guided by the social prestige sometimes granted to hyperactivity.
Marie-Helene Herouart
Take the test: Can you be happy?
