From a social point of view, education’s effect on job satisfaction and happiness is even more questionable. Humans savor status—a high rank in the pecking order. In our society, status heavily depends on education.8 Unfortunately, status is, almost by definition, zero-sum.9 As society’s education rises, so does the education one needs to feel socially superior. The disturbing implication: even if education were a path to personal happiness, it could remain a dead end for social happiness.
