As society will get richer, individuals chase the incorrect issues. One of many biggest paradoxes in American life is that whereas, on common, existence has gotten extra snug over time, happiness has fallen. The Atlantic stories:

In response to america Census Bureau, common family revenue within the U.S., adjusted for inflation, was increased in 2019 than has ever been recorded for each revenue quintile. And though revenue inequality has risen, this has not been mirrored by inequality within the consumption of products and companies. For instance, from 2008 to 2019, households within the lowest revenue quintile elevated spending on consuming out by a mean of about 22 p.c after correcting for inflation; the highest quintile elevated spending on consuming out by a mean of slightly below 8 p.c. In the meantime, home authorities companies have elevated considerably: For instance, federal spending on schooling, coaching, employment, and social companies elevated from 2000 to 2019 by about 30 p.c in inflation-adjusted phrases.

New American houses in 2016 had been 1,000 sq. toes bigger than in 1973 and dwelling area per particular person, on common, has practically doubled. The variety of Individuals who use the web elevated from 52 to 90 p.c from 2000 to 2019. The share who use social media grew from 5 to 72 p.c from 2005 to 2019.

However amid these advances in high quality of life throughout the revenue scale, common happiness is reducing within the U.S. The Common Social Survey, which has been measuring social traits amongst Individuals each one or two years since 1972, reveals a long-term, gradual decline in happiness—and rise in unhappiness—from 1988 to the current.