work friends
People with a higher perceived relative income spend more time socializing in recreational settings.
  • People who believe they have a higher income than their peers are more likely to socialize.
  • This contributed to greater happiness levels, though higher earners still feel competition to earn more.
  • People making less than their peers shift spending more toward durable goods.

People who think they have a higher income than their peers are more likely to socialize with them, contributing to greater happiness, new research found.