Getting the Biggest Happiness Bang for Your Buck

When our bank accounts are full, are we happier? Does a pay raise at work equal increased joy? What is the link between money and happiness? Behavioral scientist Elizabeth Dunn says money can buy happiness if you follow some core principles of smart spending. She and Robert Frank, Cornell professor and author of the Economic View column in The New York Times, explain how changing the way we think about money can help promote happiness. Spoiler alert: The happiness trifecta, as defined by Dunn, doesn’t explicitly include the amount of dough you have. Their conversation, held in June, is led by Adrienne LaFrance, executive editor of The Atlantic. The views and opinions of the podcast guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the Aspen Institute.