Contrary to popular belief, people’s level of satisfaction with money and the material aspects of life has a stronger impact on their subjective well-being in wealthier countries than it does in poorer nations, according to Gallup surveys of adults in 158 countries. In developed societies, money is crucial for comfortable living, whereas in poor, rural areas, shelter and food can sometimes be obtained without money, via barter or subsistence agriculture, say Weiting Ng of SIM University in Singapore and Ed Diener of the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, and the Gallup Organisation.

(Source: Journal of Personality and Social Psychology)

Published in Dawn, Economic & Business, October 13th, 2014