Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
Dumb Study: The Beautiful People Are The Happiest People
By
Ben Yakas
Published Apr 1, 2011
Modified Apr 1, 2011
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Ben Yakas
Published Apr 1, 2011
Modified Apr 1, 2011
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Have you ever spent any time browsing through the USA Today "Your Life" section on their website? No, not the "Life" section—that seems to be their area for all things arts, culture and entertainment. "Your Life" includes articles about health, recipes, pets, and most tantalizingly, endless amounts of studies telling you things you already know. For example: did you know that when overweight children feel left out or ostracized, they tend to eat more and exercise less?!? But this one really blew our minds: a new study found that "beautiful" people cash in on their looks! Why I never!
Actually, it's even worse than that: beautiful people are happier than ugly people. It's just science! The study was done by economists at the University of Texas-Austin, who analyzed data from five large surveys conducted between 1971 and 2009 in the USA, Canada, Germany and Britain. People were asked about their level of happiness, while interviewers rated their looks. And their main conclusion: cash equals happy for most people. "The majority of beauty's effect on happiness works through its impact on economic outcomes," says lead author Daniel Hamermesh, a Professor of Attractive-nomics.
This effect holds true for both sexes, but supposedly is more beneficial for women: "For a woman, it just matters to walk down the street being good-looking. For a man, beauty's direct relation to happiness is not as great. It will give you a better-looking wife, a higher-earning wife, and, most important, extra earnings," said Hammermesh. And don't think that plastic surgery or shiny new clothing is going to help you look better, because you're always going to be stuck with your own stupid face: "It doesn't help much. Your beauty is determined to a tremendous extent by the shape of your face, by its symmetry and how everything hangs together."
Unlike other such "studies" which have raised our ire, these ones chosen by USA Today for their "Your Life" section don't seem to be seeking out controversy. Instead, they seem content with pointing out the cliched and the obvious, through surface-level science with chosen-by-committee nuance. There are no insights to be gleamed, no discoveries to be found; they are at best intellectually-calcified.
But if you are really interested in learning that college-age young adults are both having more casual sex AND holding onto their virginities longer, then "Your Life" is the perfect way to waste a few minutes of your day. Or you can just wait for us to see it and grumpily write about it here. We're off to check out the woman with two vaginas now—now THAT'S beautiful.
Tagged
beautiful people
dumb study
study
trends
ugly people
usa today
Ben Yakas
Ben Yakas is a former Gothamist reporter.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
NYC Council to consider earlier Legionella reporting after deadly outbreaks
A bill facing a hearing Monday would require cooling tower owners to notify city health officials when bacteria levels reach a much lower threshold.
By
Catalina Gonella
Published Oct 18, 2026 at 7:36 p.m. ET
Staten Island fire injures 2, but spares historic 'Godfather' church
Dozens of firefighters responded to the blaze, which started in a vacant warehouse. It was contained within three hours.
By
Giulia Heyward
News
Staten Island fire injures 2, but spares historic 'Godfather' church
Dozens of firefighters responded to the blaze, which started in a vacant warehouse. It was contained within three hours.
By
Giulia Heyward
Bail reform remains major issue in NY governor's race, 7 years after it became law
By
Gino Fanelli
NYPD identifies Bronx man, 26, killed in Midtown subway shooting
By
Ryan Kost
,
Elizabeth Kim
and
Phil Corso
Have you seen this Yorkie? NYPD looking for adorable pup dognapped from her Queens home
By
Ryan Kost
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .