With your example of "pineapples and coconuts," I am reminded of Smith’s idea in The Wealth of Nations, where trade and specialization generate collective prosperity. However, it is true that this idea has been "perverted" by prioritizing money over well-being, something Smith did not explicitly foresee in his work since he assumed we would pursue our self-interest within "a moral framework"—something that is indeed very distorted nowadays because money becomes an end in itself...

You also mention the topic of well-being, measuring it in terms of money, which is truly something very complex and multi-causal, because factors like social relationships or mental health, for example, are not always "purchasable" directly with money. Furthermore, if we take into account Jevons’ own theory of marginal utility, well-being increases with income up to a certain point, but beyond that, the impact of money on emotional happiness diminishes...

You have written a very good article, with ideas and analyses that truly provide excellent material for debate. Thank you!