研究生英语阅读教程（基础级2版）.docVIP

研究生英语阅读教程（基础级2版)lesson12 READING SELECTION A Does Economic Growth development Improve Human Morale By David G Myers [1] During the mid-1980s my family and I spent a sabbatical year in the historic town of St Andrews Scotland Comparing life there with life in America we were impressed by a seeming disconnection between national wealth and well-being happiness To most Americans Scottish life would have seemed Spartan Incomes were about half that income in the U S Among families in the Kingdom of Fife surrounding around St Andrews 44 percent did not own a car and we never met a family that owned two Central heating in this place not far south of Iceland was at that time still a luxury [2] In hundreds of conversations during our year there and during three half-summer stays since since then we repeatedly noticed that despite in spite of their simpler living the Scots appeared no less joyful happy than Americans We heard complaints about Margaret Thatcher but never about being underpaid or unable to afford pay for wants necessities With less money there was no less satisfaction with living no less warmth of spirit no less pleasure happiness in one anothers company Are rich American is happier [accompany sb to somewhere] [3] Within any country such as our own are rich people happier In poor countries such as Bangladesh and India being relatively well off rich does make for cause bring about somewhat a little greater well being happiness Psychologically as well as and materially it is much better to be high caste than low caste We humans need food rest warmth and social contact [4] But in affluent rich countries where nearly everyone can afford lifes necessities increasing affluence matters vi surprisingly little In the USA Canada and Europe the correlation between income and happiness is as University of Michigan researcher Ronald Ingle-hart noted in 1980s 16-nation study surprisingly weak [indeed virtually act