London, Apr 6 : Money might not prove lucky for you in matters of love, but it surely can buy you happiness, that's what a group of researchers suggest.

According to a study by Betsey Stevenson and Justin Wolfers, economists at the Wharton business school at the University of Pennsylvania, inhabitants of richer countries are happier than those of poorer ones.

This research contradicts several earlier findings, which have suggested that higher national earnings do not translate to a happier populace.

Basing their findings on improved statistics covering more countries, the researchers claim that the higher your GDP, the wider your smile, reports the Telegraph.

However, Professor Richard Easterlin, whose 1974 paper first suggested that income and happiness were not linked, said that more research was needed.

The report does not specify how much happiness a pound will buy in the current market or whether, with the weak state of the dollar, it would be more cost-efficient to buy your happiness in the US.

As ever, the last word must go to Spike Milligan, the Irish writer, who said: "Money can't buy you happiness", flatly contradicting the latest research, "but it does bring you a more pleasant form of misery."

ANI