Story
If America's so rich, how'd it get so sad?
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Overview
The University of Chicago economist Sam Peltzman reported a significant decline in self-reported happiness among the US population following COVID-19, with this trend persisting through 2024. Data from the General Social Survey indicates that the drop in happiness is both sudden and historically unprecedented.
Summary from derekthompson.org.
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derekthompson.org
If America's so rich, how'd it get so sad?
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Community reactions
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Hacker News · derekthompson.org
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Historical count: 5 · 5 saved in sample · Historical sample
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Based on 5 sampled comments from this thread. Analyzed 2026-04-23.
- Praise: The article highlights the importance of social relationships in driving happiness, suggesting that the decline in social interactions due to COVID has had significant negative effects.
- Praise: Many commenters recognize the complexity of societal issues, indicating a thoughtful engagement with the topic rather than simplistic explanations.
- Concern: There is a pervasive sense of hopelessness regarding the impact of AI on careers, with many feeling demotivated by the technology's potential to disrupt job markets.
- Concern: The discussion reveals a spiritual crisis and a lack of meaningful connections, which many believe contribute to the overall sadness in society.