The Economics of Happiness: Building Genuine Wealth (Paperback)

~ Mark Anielski (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

We all know that money can't buy you love or happiness, but we have been living our lives as though the accumulation of wealth is the key to our dreams. Why, in spite of increasing economic prosperity over the past fifty years, are many conditions of well-being in decline and rates of happiness largely unchanged since the 1950s?

Why do our measures of economic progress not reflect the values that make us happy: supportive relationships, meaningful work, a healthy environment, and our spiritual well-being?

Economist Mark Anielski developed a new and practical economic model called Genuine Wealth to measure the real determinants of well-being and help redefine progress.

The Economics of Happiness shows:

• How economics, capitalism, accounting, and banking, which dominate our consciousness, can be reoriented toward the pursuit of genuine happiness
• How to rediscover the original meaning of the language of economics
• How to measure the five capitals of Genuine Wealth: human, social, natural, built, and financial
• How nations, governments, communities, and businesses are using the Genuine Wealth model to build a new economy of well-being
• How you and your family can apply the Genuine Wealth model in your lives

Anielski's road map toward this vision of flourishing economies of well-being will resonate with individuals, communities, and governments interested in issues of sustainability and quality of life.

Mark Anielski is an ecological economist and president of his family-owned corporation, which specializes in the economics of well-being.

About the Author

Mark Anielski is an economist, consultant and Adjunct Professor in both the School of Business, University of Alberta and the Bainbridge Island Graduate Institute. He was named a "rising star" amongst international progressive economists by Adbusters magazine in 2004, and awarded the 2004 ECO Award for his work on the Genuine Progress Indicator.

Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: New Society Publishers (September 1, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0865715963
• ISBN-13: 978-0865715967
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6.2 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #243,686 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Timely Redefinition, June 26, 2007

By	Joseph L. Hundert - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

During a point in time when we are struggling to define "sustainability" and how to reduce the amount of damage we do as a species, Mark has offered a much deeper perspective on the drivers of our behavior.

Happiness is the anchor of Mark's theories, and it seems as though happiness is commensurate with more harmonic ways of living and being, as a species. However, "Genuine" happiness is the focus as opposed to feigned or manufactured happiness, and I really appreciate this aspect of the book. Just as Jeremy Rifkin has expressed in "The European Dream", the American Dream of a completely isolationist, consumerist, accumulative and lavish existence is rapidly being exposed as a fast path to depression and disconnectedness. This feeling of discontent is probably the most commonly-shared aspect of being an American citizen.

Mark ties these themes to environmental sustainability through the examination of community models of sufficiency. I had previously lumped the word "sufficiency" in with the taste of medicine and awkward phone calls to distant relatives. However, Mark examines communities that enjoy a markedly higher quality of life through a shared, cooperativistic living framework. Such an examination gives a relative context for how well we think we're doing as a society. Such "happy" societies also seem to have a much smaller ecological footprint.

I feel as though this is a crucial read at this time, as many people begin to search for new ways to plan... on scales ranging from the dinner table to the nation.

Mark is a true master at presenting a massive knowledge base in an effective and economic manner.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars a must read, January 8, 2008

By	Michel J. Lebas (Seattle, WA, USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Every politician, at any level should be required to read this easy to read book

4.0 out of 5 stars WOW - I never realized I was so miserable, June 27, 2009

By	C. D. Smith "bathtubsinger" (Richmond, Virginia USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Great book that lays out the ways that happiness can be quantified and excellent examples of what that looks like statistically. This book is not for the faint at heart or those lacking either policy or fiscal backgrounds. It gets a little technical at times and is full of jargon. But if you are a progressive working in public policy it is a real gem. I have bought several copies for egg-head friends.