4.4 Taking Ideas from Sources 16 Selecting Key Points You have been told to write an essay on the following title: Can money buy happiness? You have found the following text which seems relevant to this topic. Itis part of an article by A. Penec in a journal called Applied Econometrics (volume 44, pages 18-27) published in 2003. Read it, and underline the key points. ‘THE MEASUREMENT OF HAPPINESS In the last 50 years there has been no apparent increase in personal happiness in Western nations, despite steadily growing economies. In both Europe and the USA surveys have found no greater level of happiness since the 1950s, which seems strange since wealthier people generally claim to be happier than poorer people. In America, for example, more than a third of the richest ‘group said they were ‘very happy’, while only halt this number of the poorest made the same claim, Although it would be logical to expect that rising national wealth would lead to greater national happiness, this has not happened, individually, more money does seem to increase happiness, but when everyone gets richer, no- ‘one appears to feel better, Economists have recently paid more attention to studying happiness, instead of the more traditional GDP per person. One suggestion has been that people rapidly {get used to improvements, and therefore devalue them. Central heating is a good example: whereas 30 years ago it was a luxuty item, today it is standard in nearly every home. 2. The text contains four key points: a) Inthe last 50 years there has been no apparent increase in personal happiness in Western nations, despite steadily growing economies. b) ...which seems strange since wealthier people generally claim to be happier than poorer people. ©) Individually, more money does seem to increase happiness, but when everyone gets richer, no-one appears to feel better. 4d) One suggestion has been that people rapidly get used to improvements, and therefore devalue them.4.4 Taking Ideas from Sources 195 Senn 17 Note-making 18 Paraphrasing DAL References and Quotations 3. The next step is to make notes of these points, using paraphrase: a) Although W. economies expanded since 1950s, no parallel growth in happiness. b) But most rich people say they are happier than poor. ©) Money appears to make individuals happier but not society as a whole. d) People soon get accustomed to developments, so don't appreciate them. 4. These points can now be combined into one paragraph of your essay, using conjunctions where necessary, and including a reference to your source: Penec (2003) argues that although Western economies: have expanded since the 1950s, there has been no parallel growth in happiness. Surveys indicate that rich people generally say they are happier than poor people, but it appears that although individuals may become happier society as a whole does not. One possible answer is that people soon become accustomed to improvements and so do not appreciate them, 5. Continue the same process with the next section of the text to produce another paragraph of your essay: ‘A urther explanation for the failure of wealth to increase happiness is the tendency for people to compare their ‘own position to that of their neighbours. Studies show that people would prefer to have a lower income, if their colleagues got less, rather than a higher income while colleagues got more. In other words, happiness seems to depend on feeling better off than other people, rather than on any absolute measure of wealth, Further research suggests that having free time is also closely linked to happiness, so that the pattern of working harder in order to buy more goods is unlikely to increase well-being. Yet Western societies generally encourage employees to spend as much time at work as possible. 6. Notes on the second section might be: a) Happiness often depends on feeling wealthier than others. b) People believe that leisure = happiness, so working longer to get extra goods won't lead to happiness. ‘These points could summarised as: ‘Another explanation Penec presents is that happiness is often dependent on a comparison with others, so that if neighbours are also getting richer there is no apparent196 Writing Models improvement. A further factor relates to leisure, which is widely equated with happiness. Consequently the idea of increasing workload to be able to purchase more goods or services is not going to result in greater happiness. 7. The entire section of your essay which makes use of this, source is as follows: Penec (2003) argues that although Wester economies have expanded since the 1950s, there has been no parallel growth in happiness. Surveys indicate that rich people generally say they are happier than poor people, but it appears that although individuals may become happier society as a whole does not, One possible answer is that people soon become accustomed to improvements and so do not appreciate them. Another explanation Penec presents is that happiness is often dependent on a comparison with others, so that if neighbours are also getting richer there is no apparent improvement. A further factor relates to leisure, which is widely equated with happiness. Consequently the idea of increasing workload to be able to purchase more goods or services is not going to result in greater happiness. The reference section at the end of the essay should include the following: Penec, A. (2003) ‘The measurement of happiness’ Applied Econometrics 44 p.18