Maurizio Pugno is Professor of Economics at the University of Cassino, Italy.

Economic growth has extraordinarily increased the availability of market goods to satisfy people's need for comfort, but at the same time it has also raised great challenges to their working and family life. Will people learn the skill necessary to cope with these challenges and draw full enjoyment from economic growth? On the Foundations of Happiness in Economics explores this question by examining the work of Tibor Scitovsky, author of The Joyless Economy.

Introduction

1. Happiness in economics: the roots and perspectives of a research programme

2. Scitovsky's research programme on human welfare

3. Enjoying creative activity by developing life skill

4. Comfort vs. creative activity as two sources of well-being

5. Addiction: from well-being to ill-being

6. Are we heading for a 'joyless economy'?

A new look at Scitovsky's concern

7. Keynes's 'Economic possibilities for our grandchildren':

Scitovsky's suggested new interpretation

8. Creative activity and well-being for a new economic growth

Conclusions