The price of glee in China

Abstract

Economic development does not lead to increased happiness, as demonstrated by the fact that China’s rapid economic growth has not led to increased happiness among its citizens. This challenges the traditional view that economic growth is the primary goal of policy, and raises questions about the ethical justifications for sacrificing the well-being of one group (e.g., workers in developed countries) to promote the economic development of another group (e.g., workers in developing countries). The author considers various philosophical positions that could justify sacrificing the well-being of one group for the benefit of another, but ultimately concludes that none of these positions are fully satisfactory. – AI-generated abstract.