Most Germans don’t believe money can buy happiness, according to a survey released on Monday, which found that only 13% of German men care deeply about becoming rich.
The figure for women is even lower, with only 6% saying they regard wealth as an important goal, according to the poll carried out by the TNS Infratest market research company last month.
Money matters slightly more to younger Germans, of whom 18% said becoming rich was a thrilling prospect.
Germans also define wealth rather modestly, the poll showed.
Only a third of the 1 106 people canvassed think one has to have more than €1,5-million to qualify as rich.
Twelve percent of respondents put the wealth threshold as low as €150 000. In the economically depressed former communist east of the country, that figure rises to 22%.
“The most modest people live in eastern Germany,” TNS Infratest concluded in a statement.
Their poll also showed that being unemployed scarcely affected Germans’ attitude towards money.
Only 10% of the country’s jobless said becoming rich was “very important”. Germany’s unemployment figure dropped to 8,8% last month amid a robust economic upswing. — AFP