An Economist’s Guide To A Happy Life - Erik Angner - #657

**Chris Williamson** (0:00)
Hello, everybody. Welcome back to the show. My guest today is Erik Angner. He's a professor of philosophy at King's College London, a researcher and an author. Economists are usually concerned with macro trends, money, finances, but they also have data-driven insights into what makes a happy, fulfilling life. Plus, Erik is a philosopher, so he manages to blend two murky worlds into a very usable approach. Expect to learn what economics says are the four pillars of living a good life, why everyone hates philosophers, whether all old Japanese people should kill themselves, why economists get such a bad rap, how to maximise your happiness from an economic perspective, whether there is a difference between men's and women's happiness, how to break your addiction to material possessions, and much more. This Monday, I'm announcing another huge cinema production episode with a massive guest I recorded with yesterday in LA, and this guy has been on my Mount Rushmore of podcast guests ever since I started so I absolutely cannot wait to get this one out. In other news, this episode is brought to you by Bubs Naturals. I'm a massive fan of collagen protein. It is something I relied on super heavily when I was recovering from my full Achilles detachment three years ago. One of the key supplements that I was told that I needed to take every single day and I did absolutely religiously was collagen because it is so fundamental as a building block for your joints, for your ligaments, for your tendons, and for your muscles as well. Bubs Naturals collagen is the purest form of collagen that you will find. It's all made with one single ingredient. You get 20 grams of high quality collagen protein per scoop and it's sustainably sourced from grass fed and pasture raised cows in South Brazil. Also, they donate 10% of all of their profits to charity in honor of the company's namesake, former Navy Seal Glenn Bubb Doherty. So if you're recovering from an injury, if you're trying to improve your hair, your skin, your nails, this is a fantastic product that I've used myself for a very long time, and you should too. Head to bubsnaturals.com and use the code MODERNWISDOM for 20% off at checkout. That's bubsnaturals.com and Modern Wisdom at checkout. In other other news, this episode is brought to you by Collars and Co. If you are a gentleman who has to go into work dressed smartly and you wear a shirt under a blazer or a sweater or a quarter zip, you will know the discomfort that you are put through because your shirt is stiff and it gets bundled up underneath the long sleeves. This is a problem that Collars and Co. has found a solution to and it's called the dress collar polo. It's a four-way stretch performance fabric polo, but the top has a firm dress collar on it. So it gives you a dress shirt look, but with an extremely comfortable polo feel. They come in a variety of styles and colors and designs that look great by themselves. You can wear them dress up or dress down. You can wear them under a blazer or with shorts at the beach. They are super versatile. And best of all, if you're a guy who goes to the gym, you are no longer paying a price in terms of how awful you feel throughout the day because your shirt is stiff. You too can basically be wearing nothing. It's the equivalent of wearing nothing. It's like being naked, but acceptable. Head to Collars and Co. and use the code MW15 for 15% off your first order. That's collarsandco.com and MW15, a checkout. And in final news, this episode is brought to you by Mudwater. Mudwater is a coffee alternative with adaptogenic mushrooms and Ayurvedic herbs. It provides energy without the anxiety, jitters or crash of coffee. The blend includes Lion's Mane for alertness, Cordyceps for physical performance, Chaga and Reishi for immune support, Turmeric for soreness and cinnamon for antioxidants. It's Whole30 approved, 100% USDA organic, non-GMO gluten-free, vegan and kosher certified. It's got anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties that can improve brain function and reduce the risk of chronic disease. Best of all, Mudwater encourages a morning ritual of meditation and reflection to start the day whilst you're making your drink. It's a little oasis of peace and calm before the chaos of the day comes and sideswipes you. And you can get 15% off everything site-wide by going to mudwtr.com/mw and using the code MW15 for 15% off a checkout. That's mudwtr.com/mw and MW15 a checkout. But now, ladies and gentlemen, please welcome Erik Angner.
Why is economics not any sexier than it is?

**Erik Angner** (4:42)