Does Money Bring Happiness In North America?

Today, Americans are perfect examples of the “Keeping Up with the Joneses” phenomenon; they are constantly trying to be the best of the best. No matter how rich they may be, they feel that someone else is always beating them in some way, whether it be in wealth and popularity. All in all, this idea proves that Americans are never satisfied with their lives, as they become thirsty for more every day. But to get what someone desires in this day and age, all he/she needs is money. No matter what others may say, money reigns in this generation and is able to fill the void that other values cannot. Happiness can indeed be bought by Americans today, as their constant spending makes them feel superior to others.

How Does Money Impact Happiness?
Money

How people live in certain areas plays a deep role in their satisfaction with life. In a Russian, Academic Johan Norberg wrote “The most happy and satisfied places on earth are the ones that are the most dynamic, individualist, and wealthy: North America, Northern Europe, Australia.” (Maclean’s). This quote demonstrates how the relaxing lifestyle of the affluent brings happiness, especially in North America. Wendy Mack reports, “Americans enjoy the highest standard of living in the world” (Affluenza). The leisure that stems from financial stability brings happiness because it allows Americans to obtain what they want and when they

But the road that brought happiness without risk and quicker was the simple one; no matter what kind of morals a person upheld, the method of obtaining more social status ruled superior in the end. This proved to be true in the lives of these two people, who carried different perspectives of social power. Psychologist Steven Reiss found, “Jackie Kennedy Onassis, for example, had a passion for status--she needed to be wealthy to be truly happy. By obtaining wealth, she thought that she could satisfy her deep desire for respect from her upper-class peers. She spent much of her life pursuing wealth by marrying two multimillionaires” (Psychology Today). Jackie Onassis’s outlook may go against some morals and lessons, but as discussed before, social power makes people happy. She had status and money. She was happy. Psychology Steven Reiss compared, “In contrast, Howard Hughes did not care much about status--he didn't care about what people thought of him and spent little time trying to earn their respect. While Jackie Kennedy Onassis placed high value on gaining status and the respect of her social peers, Howard Hughes had both but neither made him happy” (Psychology Today). Howard Hughes disregarded wealth; he opted for morals for the price of happiness. Their story reminds Americans that the power from social status truly does bring