“Rescaling and The Easterlin Paradox (2.0)” by Charlie Harrison

Around 1 month ago, I wrote a similar Forum post on the Easterlin Paradox. I decided to take it down because: 1) after useful comments, the method looked a little half-baked; 2) I got in touch with two academics – Profs. Caspar Kaiser and Andrew Oswald – and we are now working on a paper together using a related method.

That blog post actually came to the opposite conclusion, but, as mentioned, I don't think the method was fully thought through.

I'm a little more confident about this work. It essentially summarises my Undergraduate dissertation. You can read a full version here. I'm hoping to publish this somewhere, over the Summer. So all feedback is welcome.

TLDR

• Life satisfaction (LS) appears flat over time, despite massive economic growth — the “Easterlin Paradox.”
• Some argue that happiness is rising, but we’re reporting it more conservatively — [...]

---

Outline:

(00:57) TLDR

(02:11) 1. Background: A Happiness Paradox

(04:02) 2. What is Rescaling?

(06:23) 3. My Approach: Life Events would look smaller on stretched out rulers

(08:10) 4. Results: Effects Are Shrinking

(10:46) 5. How much might we be underestimating life satisfaction?

(12:42) 6. Implications

---

First published:
May 26th, 2025

Source:
https://forum.effectivealtruism.org/posts/wSySeNZ6C7hfDfBSx/rescaling-and-the-easterlin-paradox-2-0

---

Narrated by TYPE III AUDIO.

---