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The rich are getting richer, and poverty is rapidly increasing in Western countries with market economies. This growing inequality has a significant impact on the well-being of citizens.

In their newly released "Extravagance and Misery," philosophers Alan Thomas, Alfred Archer, and Bart Engelen describe how emotions tied to the market economy—such as envy, shame, and fear—have been internalized and negatively affect our well-being. They also show how individuals and organizations can break free from this rat race by focusing on solidarity, for example.

The book's cover features a bleak detail from an 18th-century painting of a sad-looking girl under a large black umbrella. This atmosphere fits well with the subject of the book, according to Bart Engelen, ethicist and political philosopher, and Alfred Archer, assistant professor of philosophy at Tilburg University.

They collaborated for eight years on this research with political philosopher Alan Thomas from the University of York, combining their expertise: Thomas in the fields of economics and politics, Engelen in the philosophy of emotions and well-being, and Archer in philosophy and ethics.

The research began with the idea of writing a book on the philosophy of happiness: the notion that everyone must strive for happiness and work hard for it individually and that everyone can succeeds if he works hard. They drew on various disciplines—psychology and the science of happiness, sociology, economics, and philosophy—synergistically combining them.

The rich get richer

Engelen states, "In our society, the focus is on the economy and wealth. Wealthy people have significant influence on politics. They don't always accumulate wealth through hard work but through mechanisms like earning interest. The income gap between a CEO and someone on the work floor can be as much as 200%, yet it's impossible for the manager to work 200% harder or more.

"French economist Thomas Piketty notes that if you're rich, it's much easier to become even richer than it is for poor people. This means a mix of politics, power, and economics is at play, promoting unfairness."

In addition, societies nurture norms and values about what is and isn't acceptable, as well as about individual happiness, which also work to the advantage of the wealthy in Western societies. Engelen says, "In countries with market economies where wealth is the goal of society, political emotions are created that make people think about wealth and compare themselves to it. For instance, envy towards the wealthy and their extravagant lifestyles.

"This focus also affects emotions directed at people living in poverty: shame, fear, dissatisfaction. Poverty is then seen as a personal failure. This means that protection cannot be expected. These internalized emotions keep the system running and make it difficult to challenge its inequality and unfairness."

Archer states, "The dominant narrative of meritocracy—a system that emphasizes earning one's place in society based on individual merit—sustains itself this way. In the United States, the belief that anything is possible ('you can make it if you try') is strong despite widespread poverty. If people feel they have full control over their work and contributions, shame is greater when they fail.

"Conversely, when they succeed, they feel they deserve admiration. European societies are less extreme in this regard, but the underlying narrative is similarly merit-based."

Less social mobility

The authors also propose ways to escape the rat race. "It's not good for an organization or society if the gap between different groups becomes too wide. There is then too little contact, too little mobility. The political philosophy of equality demonstrates this," says Engelen.

Archer says, "Governments can ensure the redistribution of resources to promote social mobility, such as investing in good public education. Leaving it to the market always benefits the elite. In the U.S., parents go to great lengths to get their children into prestigious universities like Harvard or Yale, requiring them to excel in music lessons, sports, and networking from a young age. Naturally, this leads to frustration and anxiety. The pursuit of extravagance causes misery."

However, creating an alternative and credible narrative is challenging. The Democrats in the US promised higher taxes for the rich and aid for those in need. But, Engelen argues, people don't want to feel dependent on assistance. "The message should instead be: don't believe in meritocracy. Structural inequality exists, and having a low social status is not your fault. For the well-educated: your success isn't solely due to your efforts. Hard work shouldn't be considered the only path to a successful life. A family life is equally important."

"Anger over injustice is actually a very justified emotion," Archer adds. "If someone earns so many times more than you, that's not fair. People have the right to demand change. Solidarity should be the narrative, and people can join unions."

The authors argue that companies have a responsibility: ensure that the gap between CEOs and workers isn't too wide, as this reduces opportunities for healthy social mobility and upward movement. Engelen says, "It's far better to foster cohesion in the workplace. Experiencing inequality on the job is particularly harmful to relationships."

Despite the gloomy image on the cover, the authors say they are optimistic about society: "We're not fatalistic; all these mechanisms are man-made. Meritocracy belongs to our era, and there's no reason why we can't change it. But first, we need to understand and identify the problems."