I reckon homilies like this should be prefaced by a statement of annual income, particularly where the author is on the public payroll.
Associate professors at Griffith University enjoy an annual salary in excess of $110K.
The article has an underlying tone of coercion: we must organize our lives in a way that some academic (on $120K) says is good for us.
It's up to the individual, it's a matter of personal choice and responsibility.
"Affluenza" is not compulsory.

"alternative measures to the GDP" - Article

The World Bank has an interesting wealth index: total country asssets / total population. Australia and Canada fair very well.

In a primitive society, a beast can be killed and the clan can live the life "normal" to that society with less effort than us

"alternative measures to the GDP" - Article

The World Bank has an interesting wealth index: total country asssets / total population. Australia and Canada fair very well.

In a primitive society, a beast can be killed and the clan can live the life "normal" to that society with less effort than us.

Actually, it is rather relevant to ponder if there are many 'unhappy' people in affluent Australia. Otherwise why put so much emphasis on the importance of our buoyant economy?

UNICEF came up after research that happiness of children was not related at all to the economic prosperity of the Nation.
UNchildwellbeing.pdf
http://society.guardian.co.uk/children/story/0,,2012512,00.html
but was dependent on the relationships these children had with their parents and sense of security/safety they felt. Something similar would also hold true for most adults I'd say: relationships with others and our sense of security.

So money isn't everything! As I keep telling my children who report to me of how poorly they do in the pocket money/acquisition stakes compared to their peers- Dutch children get the lowest amount of pocket money, but are the happiest children. They tell me they are Aussies not Dutch, I tell them this is a multicultural society, I'm allowed to incorporate some of my Dutch cultural values. They are keenly following the debate on scrapping multi culturalism.

If I were to be unhappy tough, I'd rather be rich than poor.

People are happiest when they feel they are valued and are being treated fairly and with respect.

How much you have or how much you do is irrelevant, it is how you are treated that makes the difference.

People don’t acquire wealth in order to be happy. They acquire wealth in order to be powerful – or to feel less vulnerable. Same goes for countries.