Politická ekonomie 2007, 55(2):147-163 | DOI: 10.18267/j.polek.594
Ekonomie a štěstí: proč více někdy není lépe
- Institut ekonomických studií, Fakulta sociálních věd, Univerzita Karlova, Praha.
Economics and Happiness: Why More is Sometimes not Better
The author raises doubts about a sense of "catching up" and an idolatry of HDP's growth. His argumentation is based on the longitudinal international research of the link "economics-happiness" at the frontier between economics and psychology. The rationality of economic science "more is better" is bounded by environmental and relational externalities: it is just what a "theory of happiness" argues against a "joyless economy". The family-household is an old istitution esp. loosing in a competition with the market economy. The article stresses a role of "relational goods" explaining why more is sometimes less. The loss of happiness in market democracies (R.Lane) is the reason for a crisis of economic paradigm; it has a chance to be healed by a switch from the principle of imperial equivalence to a reciprocity (economy of communion). Implications for economic policies based on a "science of happiness" reverse the link "economics-happiness" making from HDP growth a by-product of our effort for happiness.
Keywords: Economic rationality vs. subjective happiness, equivalence vs. reciprocity, goods, positional goods, relational goods, economics of family, economy of communion
JEL classification: A12, A13, B40, D10
Published: April 1, 2007 Show citation
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