Happiness is a Warm Gun

Abstract

Based on evolutionary reasons, we propose that current happiness may depend negatively on past happiness. Our theoretical model shows how addiction may be thought as an optimum mechanism to make mankind maximize fitness. We run happiness regressions using panel data from the British Household Panel Survey (BHPS) to test the different hypotheses. The results are twofold: originally happiness may have been autoregressive, but under modern circumstances mankind might have found the key to perpetuate life satisfaction.