Spirals of Envy

p. 52:

“If the object of envy is another’s happiness, a vicious spiral can be set up. Assume that A is stagnating and B is flourishing, but that A is unaware of B’s existence. Assume now that A becomes painfully aware of B’s existence and his higher level of well-being, and that the envious awareness of B’s prosperity reduces A’s well being from 4 to, say, 3. In other words, when A compares his well-being with that of B, his well-being falls as a result of the comparison. But then, A will presumably carry out another comparison, between B’s level and the level to which he, A, is reduced after the first comparison. . .”

I love this analysis—we once had to model an equation like this in linear algebra that was similarly bizarre (involving a couple whose regard for one another was inversely related, such that they would only have “equal affections” at very rare moments). I don’t think there are many people reduced to misery by others’ happiness, but no one can argue that this inclination to comparison and despair is deeply self-reinforcing. Recalls Robert H. Frank's article, The Frame of Reference as a Public Good (arguing that a modest standard of living is a public good providing others with a sense of well-being attendant on exceeding or matching it).