BeyondMoney.PDF

PSYCHOLOGICAL SCIENCE IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST Beyond Money Toward an Economy of Well-Being Ed Diener1,2 and Martin E.P. Seligman3 1 University of Illinois, 2the Gallup Organization, and 3 University of Pennsylvania SUMMARY—Policy decisions at the organizational, corporate, ships in groups. The fact that strong social relationships are and governmental levels should be more heavily influenced by critical to well-being has many policy implications. For in- issues related to well-being––people’s evaluations and feelings stance, corporations should carefully consider relocating em- about their lives. Domestic policy currently focuses heavily on ployees because doing so can sever friendships and therefore be economic outcomes, although economic indicators omit, and detrimental to well-being. even mislead about, much of what society values. We show that Desirable outcomes, even economic ones, are often caused by economic indicators have many shortcomings, and that mea- well-being rather than the other way around. People high in well- sures of well-being point to important conclusions that are not being later earn higher incomes and perform better at work than apparent from economic indicators alone. For example, al- people who report low well-being. Happy workers are better or- though economic output has risen steeply over the past decades, ganizational citizens, meaning that they help other people at there has been no rise in life satisfaction during this period, and work in various ways. Furthermore, people high in well-being there has been a substantial increase in depression and distrust. seem to have better social relationships than people low