Can Money Buy Happiness?

Note: This article is only looking at a small aspect of this widely debated topic and the exclusive point of view that it has been written in has been done on purpose, to keep it from eventually turning into a novel.

What is a country? It is the people of a nation. Who are its people? They are the rich and poor, dark and fair, smart and foolish, happy and sad individuals that inhabit the nation. The country defines the people and the people define the country. When we look at the development of any country, we look at the development of its people. And when we measure that development, we measure it based on one main universal aspect. Its income. The income is a tell all. How much the firms are paying their employees, how much the latter are spending, what are the standards of their living and all related questions. The income is the money. Having more money and being able to afford things leads to living in a virtuous cycle, while being financially unstable is an easy way to spiral downwards and end up being caught in a debt trap and thus, in a vicious cycle. It’s basic economics. More money = Happiness. Less money = Sadness.

The phrase “can money buy happiness” is one that we are all familiar with. The humanitarians of the world believe that this is not true. For them the love, freedom and equality possessed by people is what is most important. However, if we look at it from a different point of view where the use of money has brought an everlasting smile on the faces of people, we’ll find a lot of evidence pointing to the contrary.

Good Charlotte’s song; Girls and Boys, is a pure reflection of the way “love” works in the 21^st century. ‘Girls don’t like boys, girls like cars and money’ just says it all. Rather than at the old knight in shining armour who used their charm rather than wallets, girls’ eyes now glitter at the sight of the pretty presents that adorn their rooms on their birthdays.

How many times have we heard that people who have committed crimes have been let off because of possessing the ability to pay off an extravagant bail? How many times have politicians risen to the top because they are rich? However, these are just the negative aspects. Donations and funds raised to help countries overcome famines and natural disasters are done with money. Credit given to farmers to help them increase their agricultural input is done with money. The reason everyone reading this is living in a house with running water, electricity, a maid and cars is because they have money. Money is the source of a lot of power and one of those powers is undeniably the power to make people smile.

A wise man once said, “If I had to be sad, I’d rather be sad in a Ferrari than be sad in a Nano.”