9 Studies On Money You Will Never Believe

Thank you Economic Crisis for researching this gem of a list.

Seriously, who can believe the things that people decide to research?

I thought I’d heard some weird research topics in a bleeding-heart communications degree (does walking turtles on a leash help you appreciate the world?) but my classmates had nothing on the sheer creativity of these researchers.

Money can’t buy happiness

Not really all that weird a topic, considering the ubiquity of the proverb. I, for one, would really like to know. I know full well that a lack of money can make you pretty unhappy. So, is the inverse true?

Nope, says the University of Missouri-Columbia psychologists. The proverb holds it’s own, money can’t buy you happiness. Conversely, an unexpected windfall that you’ve never learnt to deal with can make you unhappy. How’s that for unfair.

Taller people earn more money

Which means that I am officially stuffed. Apparently, taller men earn more because they look more imposing and intelligent. Thank you Wiley-Blackwell for clearing that up.

Pretty people make more money

Jeez, the good news just keeps on coming. It’s true- what we’ve always suspected but been too afraid to ask. The University of Texas went there, and found that attractive people do earn more money.

Take heart though, ladies, ugly men earn the least. Less attractive men earn 9% less than their average or attractive-looking counterparts. Ugly women only earn 5% less overall.

Money worries make women spend more

I didn’t need the University of Hertfordshire to tell me this. Remind me of my credit card debt, and all I was to do is buy myself a new blue coat. I’m not saying it’s rational, it’s just how I feel.

Money buys happiness (when spent on other people)

Spending money on other people or giving away to charity does bring you happiness says Harvard. Something about a camel and a rich man and a needle comes to mind…

Druggy

Your brain apparently reacts to money as if it were a drug, a fact not entirely shocking to those of us that feel as if we are addicted. Apparently counting money or even handling bills acts as a painkiller. Which would explain why I’ve feel happier ever since I started working the till at work.

Satisfy the hunger

There is not better feeling than satisfying a great hunger or great thirst. You feel, even if for a minute, truly satisfied and sated. Weirdly, according to the University of Oregon, paying your taxes has the same effect. Who would have thought it?

It’s not business, it’s personal

Researchers from the University of Minnesota and British Columbia found that when people were reminded of money, there personal performance improved and their sensitivity and interpersonal relationships declined. I always find it gratifying when something you’ve thought is captured by research.

Time isn’t money, it’s just a different part of our brain

According to researchers, our brain switches to a different decision-making brain when consumers are working with time instead of money. In some ways, people are less willing to expend time than they are money, making for some poor and thoughtless consumer decisions. Think about the amount of times you’ve spent more money because you didn’t ‘have’ the time to investigate and research the item further, and you’ll know what they’re talking about.

What weird money studies have you heard about?

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