英语翻译
Howdosespendingconnecttohappiness?
Oneexplanationliesin"conspicuousconsumption".Theideaisthattherichdon'taccumulatewealthsimplyinordertoconsumeit.Rathertheyaccumulatewealthinordertodisplayit,andtheirhappinessisfueledbytheirneighbors'envy.Asaresult,thecountryfindsitselfinthegripsofa"luxuryfever"----familieswithannualincomesof$50,000trytoemulatetheconsumptionofthosewith$70,000,whointurntrytoemulatethosewith$140,000,andsoon.
It'sjustplaincommonsense.It'sphysicallyimpossibleforapieceofpaperlikemoneytomakeyouhappy.Insteadwhatmakespeoplehappyisthefeelingofsecurityorpowermoneybrings.
ArecentsurveyindicatesthatthosefromtheForbeslistofthe400richestAmericansandtheMaasaiofEastAfricaarealmostequallysatisfied.TheMaasaiareatraditionalherdingpeoplewhohavetonoelectricityorrunningwaterandliveinhutsmadeofmud.
Itfollowsthateconomicdevelopmentandpersonalincomecannotaccountforthehappinessthattheyaresooftenlinkedto.