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

<p> 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. </p><p> That blog post actually came to the opposite conclusion, but, as mentioned, I don't think the method was fully thought through. </p><p> 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. </p><p><strong> TLDR</strong></p><ul> <li> Life satisfaction (LS) appears flat over time, despite massive economic growth — the “Easterlin Paradox.”</li><li> Some argue that happiness is rising, but we’re reporting it more conservatively — [...]</li></ul> <p>---</p><p><strong>Outline:</strong></p><p>(00:57) TLDR</p><p>(02:11) 1. Background: A Happiness Paradox</p><p>(04:02) 2. What is Rescaling?</p><p>(06:23) 3. My Approach: Life Events would look smaller on stretched out rulers</p><p>(08:10) 4. Results: Effects Are Shrinking</p><p>(10:46) 5. How much might we be underestimating life satisfaction?</p><p>(12:42) 6. Implications</p> <p>---</p> <p><b>First published:</b><br/> May 26th, 2025 </p> <p><b>Source:</b><br/> <a href="https://forum.effectivealtruism.org/posts/wSySeNZ6C7hfDfBSx/rescaling-and-the-easterlin-paradox-2-0?utm_source=TYPE_III_AUDIO&utm_medium=Podcast&utm_content=Source+URL+in+episode+description&utm_campaign=ai_narration" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://forum.effectivealtruism.org/posts/wSySeNZ6C7hfDfBSx/rescaling-and-the-easterlin-paradox-2-0</a> </p> <p>---</p> <p>Narrated by <a href="https://type3.audio/?utm_source=TYPE_III_AUDIO&utm_medium=Podcast&utm_content=Narrated+by+TYPE+III+AUDIO&utm_term=ea_forum&utm_campaign=ai_narration" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">TYPE III AUDIO</a>.</p> <p>---</p><div style="max-width: 100%";><p><strong>Images from the article:</strong></p><a href="https://res.cloudinary.com/cea/image/upload/f_auto,q_auto/v1/mirroredImages/wSySeNZ6C7hfDfBSx/r8bn7wlpxzghsrithxim" target="_blank"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/cea/image/upload/f_auto,q_auto/v1/mirroredImages/wSySeNZ6C7hfDfBSx/r8bn7wlpxzghsrithxim" alt="Graph showing "Underlying Happiness" measurements over three time periods with happiness scales." style="max-width: 100%;" /></a><hr style="margin-top: 24px; margin-bottom: 24px;" /><a href="https://res.cloudinary.com/cea/image/upload/f_auto,q_auto/v1/mirroredImages/wSySeNZ6C7hfDfBSx/lmjyhjms9gg3jilzduf4" target="_blank"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/cea/image/upload/f_auto,q_auto/v1/mirroredImages/wSySeNZ6C7hfDfBSx/lmjyhjms9gg3jilzduf4" alt="Graph showing "Adjusting Life Satisfaction for Rescaling" comparing four metrics from 1991-2015." style="max-width: 100%;" /></a><hr style="margin-top: 24px; margin-bottom: 24px;" /><a href="https://res.cloudinary.com/cea/image/upload/f_auto,q_auto/v1/mirroredImages/wSySeNZ6C7hfDfBSx/uduogp0rs7hboxl87bi3" target="_blank"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/cea/image/upload/f_auto,q_auto/v1/mirroredImages/wSySeNZ6C7hfDfBSx/uduogp0rs7hboxl87bi3" alt="Graph showing happiness levels over two time periods with ruler measurements. The graph measures "Underlying Happiness (Unobserved)" from worst (0) to best (10) possible life, with purple arrows indicating happiness changes at t=1 and t=2." style="max-width: 100%;" /></a><hr style="margin-top: 24px; margin-bottom: 24px;" /><a href="https://res.cloudinary.com/cea/image/upload/f_auto,q_auto/v1/mirroredImages/wSySeNZ6C7hfDfBSx/v529wo6hq8ztcwclv5fv" target="_blank"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/cea/image/upload/f_auto,q_auto/v1/mirroredImages/wSySeNZ6C7hfDfBSx/v529wo6hq8ztcwclv5fv" alt="Two line graphs titled "8-Year Periods" comparing relationship events and unemployment effects. The graphs show longitudinal data from 1991-2015, comparing various life events like death of partner, separation, and unemployment, with and without controls. The graphs track "Indexed Effect Size" across different relationship status changes." style="max-width: 100%;" /></a><p><em>Apple Podcasts and Spotify do not show images in the episode description. Try <a href="https://pocketcasts.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer">Pocket Casts</a>, or another podcast app.</em></p></div>