Well-being science reveals that, despite signs of economic growth during the post-COVID recovery, a widespread "vibecession" phenomenon of U.S. consumer pessimism persists. This challenges the traditional economic assumption that increased discretionary income automatically translates into higher national happiness.

To explore well-being science, Harvesting Happiness Podcast Host Lisa Cypers Kamen speaks with Dr. Carol Graham, a senior scientist at Gallup, an author, and a senior fellow in the Economic Studies program at Brookings.

Carol discusses the lack of civic and economic education in the US and how that affects vulnerable populations. She also presents statistics on the decline of mental health and wellness among US teens and how a loss of hope contributes to consumer pessimism.

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