Know Your English (Jan 2002)-20

Know your English

WHAT IS the meaning of "feel good factor"?

This is an expression that has been around since the 1970s. At first it was generally used to refer to something that creates a sense of well being in people — their emotional state, physical state, financial state, etc. Since the 1990s, however, the "feel good factor" has become somewhat restricted in its meaning; it's become an expression, which is mostly employed by economists and financial pundits. These days it is extensively used to refer to a sense of financial and material well being — not necessarily physical or emotional. Here are a few examples.

* A well known economist believes that the feel good factor will not return to the country before the end of the decade.

* No matter what changes the government makes, the feel good factor will be slow to return.

Source:

The Hindu daily, Tuesday, Jan 29, 2002