price of pleasure

guerlain has found the solution to unhappiness: their new happylogy line contains pro-endorphins, meant to trigger endorphins in the skin and promote happiness (for only $80). is effectiveness (i'll wager happylogy lacks it) all that separates this from endorphin drugs such as opium?

endorphin-boosters aside, reserach suggests we should be more strategic about the kinds of things we purchase to make us happy:

In a nationwide phone survey of 1,279 adults, respondents were much more likely to claim that a prior experiential purchase made them happier than a material one—57 percent versus 34 percent—even after accounting for differences in price.

this makes sense, although the study seems methodologically flawed, relying solely on recall of items purchased. it is also difficult to account for life quality improvements, a standard complaint of happiness studies - for example, you may not report that a washer & dryer increases your happiness in the same way that a trip to aruba does, but it reduces hassle and frees up time and money for more enjoyable (experiential) activities, etc.

in addition, as the article notes the distinction between experiential and material goods is a bit blurry. most seem to contain both components, guerlain's happylogy products being a great example.