We come up with lots of reasons to work with jerks. We take an investment from a jerk investor instead of a kind one. We accept a job from a bully instead of someone who will nurture and challenge us with worthwhile work. And we take on a customer who denigrates our team and our work instead of embracing the good ones… The most common reason is that they pay us more. A better valuation, a better hourly rate.

A classic (and compelling) argument in favor of privileging economics as an organizing principle for society is that efficient economic transactions are non zero-sum: that is, both parties come out ahead. They don’t necessarily benefit equally- but both gain more value than they feel they've given up. This is a near-magical creation of value out of thin air! Yay economics!

It’s easy to disagree about all manner of things. Is beer the best drink in the world, or just one of the best? Are tax cuts good or bad for society? Do socks really have to match? But when we argue about complicated or emotional subjects, we often talk past each other- especially when we start the conversation having already reached our own conclusion about the “right” answer.

The emerging field of well-being science uses various terms to describe things like positive emotions and moods, the absence of negative emotions, satisfaction with life, fulfillment, and positive functioning.