Why you overestimate the joy of achieving your dreams | Reto Odermatt | TEDxBasel

Happiness is more temporary than we think it will be–even when we achieve our dreams. We overestimate the happiness of achieving our dreams because happiness has an expiration date. Sharing original research, Odermatt compares predicted happiness from major life events like marriage and homeownership to actual happiness over time.

Reto is researcher and lecturer at the Center for Research in Economics and Well-Being (CREW) at the University of Basel. After obtaining his doctorate he held positions at the London School of Economics and the University of Chicago, financed by a fellowship from the Swiss National Science Foundation. Reto conducts research using data on subjective well-being in the interdisciplinary field linking economics, psychology, health, and public policy. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx