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If Money Doesn't Make You Happy, Consider Time

Author

Listed:
  • Aaker, Jennifer L.

    (Stanford University)

  • Rudd, Melanie

    (Stanford University)

  • Mogilner, Cassie

    (University of Pennsylvania)

Abstract

Although a substantial amount of research has examined the link between money and happiness, far less has examined the link between time and happiness. This paper argues, however, that time plays a critical role in understanding happiness, and it complements the money-spending happiness principles in Dunn, Gilbert, and Wilson (2010) by offering five time-spending happiness principles: 1) spend time with the right people; 2) spend time on the right activities; 3) enjoy the experience without spending the time; 4) expand your time; and 5) be aware that happiness changes over time.

Suggested Citation

  • Aaker, Jennifer L. & Rudd, Melanie & Mogilner, Cassie, 2010. "If Money Doesn't Make You Happy, Consider Time," Research Papers 2067, Stanford University, Graduate School of Business.
  • Handle: RePEc:ecl:stabus:2067
    as

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    File URL: http://gsbapps.stanford.edu/researchpapers/library/RP2067.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Cassie Mogilner & Jennifer L. Aaker & Ginger L. Pennington, 2008. "Time Will Tell: The Distant Appeal of Promotion and Imminent Appeal of Prevention," Journal of Consumer Research, Journal of Consumer Research Inc., vol. 34(5), pages 670-681, August.
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    6. Loewenstein, George, 1987. "Anticipation and the Valuation of Delayed Consumption," Economic Journal, Royal Economic Society, vol. 97(387), pages 666-684, September.
    7. Wendy Liu & Jennifer Aaker, 2008. "The Happiness of Giving: The Time-Ask Effect," Journal of Consumer Research, Journal of Consumer Research Inc., vol. 35(3), pages 543-557, May.
    8. DeVoe, Sanford E. & Pfeffer, Jeffrey, 2010. "How Higher Economic Value of Time Increases Feelings of Time Pressure," Research Papers 2066, Stanford University, Graduate School of Business.
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    14. Mogilner, Cassie & Aaker, Jennifer L., 2009. "The Time vs. Money Effect: Shifting Product Attitudes and Decisions through Personal Connection," Research Papers 2014, Stanford University, Graduate School of Business.
    15. Daniel Kahneman & Alan B. Krueger & David Schkade & Norbert Schwarz & Arthur A. Stone, 2006. "Would You Be Happier If You Were Richer? A Focusing Illusion," Working Papers 77, Princeton University, Department of Economics, Center for Economic Policy Studies..
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    Cited by:

    1. Sanjay Singh & Yogita Aggarwal, 2018. "Happiness at Work Scale: Construction and Psychometric Validation of a Measure Using Mixed Method Approach," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 19(5), pages 1439-1463, June.

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