Better off - but are we any happier than 50 years ago?

By Jayne Warren - 01/02/2008

Our readers often tell us that, even though they "didn't have much" in the way of money or possessions, life was much happier a few decades ago than it is now. And many feel especially sorry for today's young children, who cannot run or play freely in the streets for fear of violence, are frequently starved of basic human love and affection - but remain isolated with their computers living in a 'virtual world'.

 

It seems that our readers are quite right in their comments - as shown recently in a special 50 year anniversary report called 'Family Spending', published by the Office for National Statistics.

The report was originally launched in 1957 to gather information on household income and spending on goods and services, ranging from food and housing to transport and leisure. It painted a picture of a country slowly emerging from wartime rationing, and the basic family expenditures were food, fuel and rent.

That same survey has documented profound changes over five decades in the nation’s household spending. For instance, spending on food has fallen drastically since 1957, and half of our current food budget now consists of meals and takeaways - a new category introduced in the l970s. But housing, including mortgage interest payments, council tax and rent, is now the single largest item accounting for 19% of spending.

Other significant changes include cigarettes - the number two item in 1957 and now number 30 in 2006 - and gambling payments. Gambling did not feature at all in 1957 - but by 2006 had risen to number 33.
 
Yet the biggest change outside housing related spending is our spending on leisure - including motoring, travel costs and technology such as computers and mobile phones. Motoring and travel costs have doubled from 8% in 1957 to 16% in 2006, and the proportion of households with a satellite, digital or cable receiver rose from 28% in 1998-9 to 71% in 2006. Meanwhile spending on mobile phones rose to 80% and home computers reached 67%.

Ironically, we spend more on these 'luxury' items - with hardly any time to actually enjoy them. In other words, our greater spending on leisure has not made us happier.

Economist Richard Layard of the London School of Economics, has studied surveys of happiness over a period of time. He claims that once people can afford the basics, happiness does not increase with income, and that levels of happiness have not changed in the UK over the last 30 years - despite the doubling of living standards.

The Family Spending survey also provides evidence for what most people instinctively know: that good relationships - whether a partner, children or friends - and meaningful work contribute most to happiness. So it is a little sad that the only time most modern families talk to each other is in the car.

Your views are welcome. email jayne.warren@maturetimes.co.uk.