[valtaherra]

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Happiness is not an economic issue. It is a personal issue.

[/ QUOTE ] Happiness is actually quite literally the central economic issue.

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Happiness has nothing to do with economics. Economic exchanges occur based on preferences, which are based on values, which are based on the subjective importance an individual assigns to certain scarce resources.

I do a lot of things, voluntarily, that make me unhappy. I went to blockbuster and paid $4 to rent "The Pianist." I knew what it would do to me. I watched it and almost cried my eyes out. I was completely unhappy when it was over, just like I knew I'd be.

I just went to the gym that I paid $40 this month to. I worked out so hard I almost puked. I knew I would, and I hurt a lot right now.

Economic exchanges are purposeful actions that attempt to achieve certain desired ends, ends which may or may not have anything to do with happiness.