a. What does the news clip imply about how the total utility from consumption changes over time?

b. What does the news clip imply about how the marginal utility from consumption changes over time?

At any given point in time, the rich tend to be a bit happier than the poor, but across-the-board increases in living standards don’t seem to make people happier.
The average American’s income has grown about 80% since 1972, but the percentage describing themselves as “very happy” (roughly a third) has barely changed over the years. As living standards increase, most of us respond by raising our own standards:
Things that once seemed luxuries now are necessities.
As a result, we’re working harder than ever to buy stuff that satisfies us less and less.