What “Affluenza” Means – An Economist Article Explained
In The Economist newspaper, “affluenza” is used not as a medical term but as a social and behavioural label for the psychological and social costs of chasing wealth and status in rich societies. The word, a blend of affluence and influenza, suggests a kind of “contagious” condition spread by consumer culture: the more people pursue money, possessions, and social prestige, the more they feel anxious, overworked, and unfulfilled—even as their incomes rise.
How The Economist frames it
An article in The Economist would typically present affluenza as a by‑product of modern capitalism and inequality:
People in rich countries work longer hours, accumulate debt, and buy more goods, yet report little gain in happiness once basic needs are met.
The pursuit of “more” becomes self‑reinforcing: higher incomes raise expectations, so people feel they still need more, leading to chronic dissatisfaction and stress.
In this view, affluenza is less about being rich and more about being trapped in a cycle of comparison, consumption, and status‑seeking.
Individual and social effects
At the individual level, affluenza often shows up as:
An obsessive focus on work and income, strained relationships, anxiety, and a self‑image tightly tied to financial success.
A sense that money should bring happiness, yet feeling hollow or restless once material goals are achieved.
At the social level, The Economist‑style analysis links affluenza to:
Rising inequality and “luxury fever,” where the rich consume ever more while others feel left behind.
Environmental damage from overconsumption, as constant buying drives resource use, waste, and emissions.
Why it matters to The Economist
For The Economist, affluenza is a shorthand for questioning the limits of GDP‑driven progress. If more income and more stuff do not reliably make people happier, then policies that only chase growth may be missing the point. A typical piece would conclude that tackling affluenza means rethinking how societies measure success—not just by wealth, but by well‑being, time, and sustainability.
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