there is research in economics by Richard Easterlin (no relation) that finds
that people's self-reported happiness does not increase as income rises over
time in many different societies, although self-reported happiness does increase
as one moves from the poorest class to the richest at a point in time. This
supports your relative happiness hypothesis.
William Easterly
MC3-337
World Bank
1818 H Street
Washington DC 20433
Phone 202 473 8965
Fax 202 522 3518
Web-site: http://www.worldbank.org/research/growth
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