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Introducing Planet Money: Can Money Buy Happiness?

2025/1/1

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Barb Mellers

Matt Killingsworth

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节目旁白

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节目旁白: 本节目探讨了金钱能否买到幸福这一古老问题。2010年的一项研究表明，金钱可以买到幸福，但只有在年收入达到7.5万美元左右时才会停止，超过这个数额，金钱似乎对幸福感没有影响。然而，最近的研究对这一结论提出了质疑。 Bernadette Joy Cruz Mullion的经历也印证了这一观点。她在年收入达到10万美元后，反而感到不快乐。但她后来发现，如果把钱花在正确的事情上，有钱实际上是很棒的，金钱可以带来时间自由和更多可能性，从而提升幸福感。社会科学界对金钱与幸福关系的研究也发生了180度转变。 Sally Helm 和 Nick Fountain: 金钱与幸福的关系是一个重要的经济学问题。曾经普遍认为，随着收入增加，幸福感也会增加，但当收入达到7.5万美元/年左右时，这种关系就会趋于平缓。这项观点来自2010年两位诺贝尔奖得主Angus Deaton和Daniel Kahneman的研究。Kahneman和Deaton的研究发现，日常情绪幸福感会随着收入增加而上升，但当收入达到7.5万美元/年左右时，这种上升趋势就会停止。然而，7.5万美元的收入水平只是一个大致的范围，并且相关性并不等于因果关系。 Matt Killingsworth的研究结果与Kahneman的研究结果相矛盾。Killingsworth的研究发现，收入与幸福感之间存在正相关关系，并没有出现幸福感“高原期”。Killingsworth的研究结果发表后，引起了广泛关注。 Matt Killingsworth: Killingsworth使用经验抽样法收集了大量数据，发现收入越高，幸福感越高，没有出现幸福感“高原期”。他最初对这一结果感到不安，担心它会与Kahneman的著名研究结果相冲突。但后来，他与Kahneman进行了合作研究，试图解释两者研究结果的差异。 Barb Mellers: Kahneman和Killingsworth的研究结果可能都是正确的，只是采用了不同的数据和分析方法。Kahneman的研究使用了是/否问题来衡量幸福感，而Killingsworth的研究则使用了连续的幸福感量表。Kahneman的研究中，大多数人的回答都是“是，是，是”，这使得该研究无法区分不同程度的幸福感。Killingsworth的研究使用了更精细的幸福感量表，能够区分不同程度的幸福感。Kahneman的研究实际上测量的是不幸福感，而不是幸福感。在Killingsworth的研究数据中，对于最不幸福的15%到20%的人群，也发现了幸福感“高原期”。对于最幸福的15%的人群，收入与幸福感之间存在加速关系。

Deep Dive

Key Insights

What was the key finding of the 2010 study by Daniel Kahneman and Angus Deaton on money and happiness?

The study found that higher household income correlates with greater emotional well-being, but only up to around $75,000 a year. Beyond that, more money did not significantly increase happiness.

Why did Bernadette Joy Cruz Mullion initially believe that more money didn’t lead to more happiness?

After earning $100,000 a year, Bernadette felt that the more money she made, the less happy she became. She later realized that spending money on the right things, like hobbies and experiences, could significantly enhance happiness.

What did Matt Killingsworth’s 2021 study reveal about the relationship between money and happiness?

Matt Killingsworth’s study found that more money correlates with more happiness, and this relationship continues well beyond the $75,000 annual income threshold, contradicting the earlier 2010 study.

What was the significance of the adversarial collaboration between Matt Killingsworth and Daniel Kahneman?

The collaboration revealed that both studies were partially correct. Kahneman’s study measured unhappiness, showing a plateau at higher incomes for the least happy group, while Killingsworth’s data showed that for the happiest group, happiness increased significantly with more income.

What does the adversarial collaboration suggest about the impact of money on happiness for different groups?

For the least happy 15-20% of people, money mitigates unhappiness up to about $100,000 a year, after which it has little effect. For the happiest 15%, happiness accelerates with higher income, suggesting that money can significantly enhance happiness for those who already feel content.

What is the broader implication of Matt Killingsworth’s research on career choices and happiness?

Killingsworth suggests that while money can contribute to happiness, it is one of many factors. When making career decisions, such as choosing between art history and electrical engineering, considering income potential might be wise, but other factors like personal fulfillment and social connections are equally important.

Shownotes Transcript

People often say that money can't buy you happiness. Sometimes, if you ask them to tell you more about it, they'll mention a famous 2010 study by Nobel Prize winners Daniel Kahneman and Angus Deaton. That study found that higher household income correlates with greater emotional well-being, but only up to around $75,000 a year. After that, more money didn't seem to matter.

This was a famous study by two famous academics. The result stood for over a decade. And it feels good, right? Maybe the rich aren't so much happier than anyone else. But researchers have recently done a complete 180 on this idea. In 2021, psychologist Matt Killingsworth found nearly the opposite: That more money does correlate with more happiness. And that the relationship continues well beyond $75,000 per year.

Today on the show: Does more money mean fewer problems? Two researchers with totally different takes come together to hammer out a better understanding of the relationship between money and happiness.

This episode was hosted by Sally Helm and Nick Fountain. It was produced by Sean Saldana, Sam Yellowhorse Kesler, and Emma Peaslee. It was edited by Meg Cramer and fact-checked by Sierra Juarez. Engineering by Cena Loffredo. Alex Goldmark is Planet Money's executive producer.

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