THE OLD adage is true: money really can't buy you happiness. A study has shown that Ghanaians get more happiness and enjoyment from their meager income money than most other nations, including Britain and America, writes the Sunday Times.

The research, into the link between personal spending power and the perceived quality of life, showed that people in Bangladesh, one of the poorest countries in the world, get far more happiness from their small incomes than the British do from their relatively large ones. Britain also lags behind the Philippines, Nigeria and Ghana, and is placed 32nd out of the 54 countries measured (refer table below).

"People in Britain are generally less happy than they were 10 years ago. Two-thirds would rather see the environment improved than have more economic growth and personal spending money," said Robert Worcester, visiting professor of government at the London School of Economics, who co-wrote the study.

The study, to be published in a book this week by Demos (price ?9.95), the independent think tank, shows that although the British have twice as much money to spend in real terms compared with 40 years ago, their perceived quality of life has not improved. Earlier studies have shown that many Britons still believe that money does bring happiness. The Demos research shows that such a link still exists in poor countries because a small increase in income can mean large improvements in lifestyle.

However, above a certain level of income that direct relationship breaks down and, the research suggests, happiness in Britain is far more dependent on close personal relationships, good health and job satisfaction.

The researchers concluded that although Britons are rich compared with most other countries, many suffer from an emotional poverty caused by consumerism and the destruction of communities.

Nic Marks, a social sciences researcher at Surrey University who also worked on the report, said: "We are being seduced by an economic juggernaut and our personal needs are not being met."

For many people, the research will only confirm their decision to "downshift" by exchanging affluent lifestyles for ones that allow more time for personal interests.

Bangladesh

Azerbaijan

Nigeria

Phillipines

India

Ghana

Georgia

China

Poland

Turkey

DominicanRepublic

SouthAfrica

Venezuela

Brazil

Uruguay

Latvia

Croatia

Mexico

Argentina

Hungary

Estonia

Armenia

SouthKorea

Chile

Romania

Ireland

Sweden

ChechRepublic

Netherlands

Australia

Spain

Britain

Finland

Iceland

Denmark

Belgium

France

Norway

Austria

Portugal

Switzerland

Germany

Canada

Japan

Italy

UnitedStates of america

Slovania

Lithuania

Slovakia

Russia

Ukraine

Belarus

Bulgaria

Moldova