Positional Goods
Goods whose value comes from rank — the best school place, the corner office, the bigger house on the street; everyone striving raises the price and leaves relative position unchanged.
An everyday example
Two neighbours each extending their houses to stay ahead of the other and ending exactly where they started, poorer.
What it can cost you
Running on a treadmill that cannot be won; unhappiness from comparison with the wrong reference group.
Warning signs
- I felt fine until I saw theirs.
- Winning would just reset the race.
One thing to do
Choose your pond: pick comparison groups that serve you, and spend on absolute goods (health, time, security) over positional ones.
Is this happening to you right now?
Describe your situation and get a read across all six brains. No account needed.
Check my situationRelated
Not medical, legal or financial advice. How Decision IQ works
One decision idea a week
One useful idea. No daily drip, no pressure.