Very interesting but one problem - it does not clarify what all the research has consistently shown for over a half century:

Living at a level where you have to stress just to get a can of food sucks. Check

Thinking you have to have over 100K a year to be happy sucks. Oops, article didn't make that point. Uncheck.

So here's the research (modify the amounts based on your local needs, inflation, etc)

Not having enough money to meet survival needs makes most people (not everyone, by the way - but most, yes unhappy). nowadays for a single person that means under 30 K- even if you live simply and with

Having just enough to meet survival needs (30K) makes most people happier, but there's still a lot of stress, because you never know when something is going to be needed you can't afford.

having about 2x as much as you need does bring, for most, more happiness, but something funny happens here.

Once you get beyond that, happiness increases briefly, but beyond 100K, twice as much, 10x as much, 100x as much, makes no difference.

;

None.

That's crucial to understand. And it's not just the amount

If I think I need 100K to meet my survival needs, and I'm only making 75K, I'm going to be stressed.

If I think I need 50K to meet my survival needs, and I'm making 75K, I'm going to be quite content.

So another way to feel wealthier and more content, is to live simply. In fact, there are areas - yes, where it is enjoyable to live and there's a rich cultural network - where a single person can be quite content and not worry about survival needs at closer to 20 or 25K.

So yes, having more money, beyond survival needs, is necessary, but it's a WHOLE lot less than many if not most people think.