That's definitely a very interesting and eye-opening perspective.

Then again, the "wrinkle" in this picture is the assumption that our "perceived needs" have ramained constant, over the same time period. The challenge is that individual perceptions of "what we should have/need in our lives" has changed just about as much, to the point where a large proportion of the population eternally labors under the illusion of feeling like they "just don't have enough."

Even in older people's lifetimes, that holds true: Consider, for example, "communications and entertainment." In 1970, the bills associated was for basic phone service and a few stamps to mail letters; you had a TV and pointed "rabbit ears" at the sky to get a snowy image. In 2020, the bills are cell service, cable/satellite TV, possibly a landline, high speed Internet and maybe a few others. These are the things we feel we "need." In 1970, we were paying $30 for the perceived "basics" of the time, in 2020, we're paying maybe $400+ for the perceived "basics" of our time.

Sure, inflation has had an effect, but we also keep moving the "goalposts" so many people eternally surf the edge of "barely making it." I see the primary challenge as getting beyond the pervasive need to "catch up."

=^..^=

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