This book asserts that economic growth, as driven by market forces, induces people, through both the demand- and supply-side channels, to pursue command over more material resources, and this weakens the self-generation of capabilities, putting well-being at risk of deterioration.
"Given its stated aims, the book has a very appropriate structure that helps the development and comprehension of its theses. The topics are constructed in a systematic and careful manner, and each chapter provides a very useful literature review...The book is not only valuable for scholars working in the area of happiness research, but also for a much larger readership with an interest of the current problems that modern advanced economies are facing and the possible ways to tackle them."
Stavros A. Drakopoulos, Journal of Economic Psychology
Maurizio Pugno (M.Phil., Cambridge, UK) is Full Professor of Economics at the University of Cassino, Italy.