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04/08/2008: "Westerners wealthier, healthier and less happy"

Britons are enjoying a higher standard of living and are healthier than they were 30 years ago, yet few are satisfied, according to a survey published today.

In 2006, men were expected to live until 77 years of age, while life expectancy for women was 82. This compares with 69 for men and 75 for women in 1971.

Household wealth has more than doubled in the UK since 1987 with spending on goods and services in 2006 approximately two and a half times higher than in 1971.

But eightfold growth in the volumes of consumption for recreation, leisure and tourist expenditure abroad over the last three decades suggests that free time and developing a work-life balance is increasingly important to Brits today.
[ We want to escape the modern nightmare, but can't give up on wealth because otherwise we're powerless. Great system. ]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2008/apr/08/socialtrends.socialsciences