Happiness is a private matter and individual pursuit; however, public policy does have an important role and can contribute much through various enabling means. This volume discusses the determinants of happiness and presents case studies of how public policy can help promote happiness.

Economists take preferences as given. This paper analyzes the choice by an individual of her preferences, her attitude towards wealth in particular. Evidence that one?s attitude towards wealth may affect utility and that people can, at least to some extent and at some costs, choose their...

As supported by commonsense and substantial evidence (discussed in Sections 1 and 2), one's attitude toward wealth may affect utility and people can, at least to some extent and at some costs, choose their attitudes. Using a very simple model of attitude choice (Section 3) and analysing the...