Some people think that if a country is already rich any addition in economic wealth does not make its citizens happier. Do you agree or disagree with this statement? Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.

Some people think that if a country is already rich any addition in economic wealth does not make its citizens happier. Do you agree or disagree with this statement? Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.

 

Ielts Essay - Some people think that if a country is already rich any addition 

Ever increasing prosperity of elite nations has made social theorists curious about the level of feeling of well-being of the inhabitants of such nations. Some feel that the scale of contentment has somehow stagnated, and no further development can raise this level, while others feel quite differently.  

Economies that made considerable progress over the years, as elucidated by facts and figures of recent surveys, are now facing a saturation point since the economic prosperity has reached a plateau where no further ascent is possible. In the past, people were enthusiastic about every new improvement in the economic conditions, but that sentiment has gone missing now, as the expectations of people have perhaps risen further that can never be attained by indulging in consumerism.

On the tops of that, rising levels of incomes do not have to necessarily mean that feeling of well-being is increasing parallelly.  Life in such countries has become harder due to rising inflation; shifting focus of home-grown industries to outsourcing cheap labor and other resources, etc. This is leading to a rise in unemployment and reduction in opportunities for business in the local jurisdiction. Even though people are getting appropriate and adequate support from the governments, lack of productive engagement among the citizens is resulting in higher discontent.  

However, it can be easily argued that the rising prosperity does bring along a sentiment of optimism since the inhabitants of prosperous economies feel far more secure about their, as well as their kid’s and sibling’s future. Also, they experience a feeling of eternity since they are able to fulfill their obligation towards humanity, by helping poor in other parts of the world.

Hence, I feel that despite many presenting optimism about this phenomenon, an increment in prosperity of rich countries does not signify a parallel rise in level of contentment.