> income inequality is higher but so is standard of living. Increased wealth inequality has been shown to negatively impact happiness, whether rational or not.

> income inequality is higher but so is standard of living. Increased wealth inequality has been shown to negatively impact happiness, whether rational or not. Sure average standard of living may be higher, but that does not negate the negative effects of increased inequality. > most jobs have always been shit and meaningless. I disagree, I think jobs have clearly gotten more meaningless. In the past most people were employed in fields like agriculture and manufacturing, which have a clear sense of meaning (even if they're not pleasant). Now with the service sector being the main source of employment and increases in specialization and bureaucracy, it's gotten harder to feel a sense of meaning than it was in the past. > poverty and suicidality are inversely correlated I'm doubtful of this. I would imagine there is probably a positive correlation between increased debt (relative to income/wealth), losing one's job / inability to find work, and general lack of money for essential things (eg. medical bills) and increased rates of depression and suicide. > guaranteed parental leave would help reduce suicides? I mean, we didn't have that in the past. Women also didn't have to work in the past and could be stay-at-home mothers. Regarding vacation, there is definitely increased competitiveness in the workforce now. Sure vacation law has not changed, but with increased competitiveness in the labor market companies can demand more (eg. less vacation) and people can be more afraid to take vacations out of fear of losing their jobs and not being able to find another one.