‘Falling Behind: How Rising Inequality Harms the Middle Class’ - New York Times

Robert Frank from his new book:

‘Falling Behind: How Rising Inequality Harms the Middle Class’ - New York Times: "[C]hoose between two worlds that are identical in every respect except one. The first choice is between World A, in which you will live in a 4,000-square-foot house and others will live in 6,000-square-foot houses; and World B, in which you will live in a 3,000-square-foot house and others in 2,000-square-foot houses. Once you choose, your position on the local housing scale will persist.

According to the standard neoclassical economic model of choice, which holds that utility depends on the absolute amount of consumption, the uniquely correct choice is World A. For if absolute house size is all that matters, A is indeed a better world for all, since everyone has a larger house there than the largest house in World B. The important thing, though, is to focus on how you would feel in the two worlds."

(Via .)