# Easterlin paradox

> English word · Proper noun

## Definitions
1. The apparently paradoxical observation that people's reported happiness varies directly with income both among and within nations, but over time happiness does not trend upward as income continues to grow.

## Etymology
Named for the economist Richard Easterlin, who discussed the factors contributing to happiness in a 1974 book chapter.

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/easterlin-paradox