The United Nations (UN) decided that a better quality-of-life measure was needed for member nations than just economic data. What they were after was something that would
explain why citizens of a nation would reply in the affirmative if they were
asked if they were satisfied with their lives or if they were happy (the two
questions appear to be equivalent in results).
An organization named the Sustainable Development Solutions Network
(SDSN) was formed to bring experts in various fields together to define the
conditions that lead to “sustainable development.” That is, development including economic as
well as social factors that produce happiness and satisfaction.
Survey questions can determine the degree to which
residents of a nation consider themselves to be happy or satisfied, but to
understand the reasons why different nations produce different responses it is
necessary to learn what causes the variations. Experts have concluded that six factors can be
used to quantify the variables that contribute to happiness and life satisfaction. These factors can be determined by
demographic and economic data combined with survey results.
Yearly surveys are used to quantify the factors important
for happiness. The values used in
announcing the results are based on averages over a few years. The recent report, World Happiness Report 2017, was based on data accumulated between
2014 and 2016.
“….countries in the top ten….have high values in all six of the key
variables used to explain happiness differences among countries and through
time – income, healthy life expectancy, having someone to count on in times of
trouble, generosity, freedom and trust, with the latter measured by the absence
of corruption in business and government.”
Income is determined from national per capita GDP, while
perceptions of social support and corruption can be determined by survey
questions. Freedom is the freedom to
make life choices as in “Are you satisfied or dissatisfied with your freedom to
choose what you do with your life?”
Generosity is related to answers to the question “Have you donated money
to a charity in the last month?” as correlated with per capita GDP information.
Using these factors, the various countries can be ranked
as to the happiness of their residents and some conclusions can be drawn about
why country results are what they are. This
source presents the current top ten
countries over time.
All of the countries are developed nations with strong
economies. It should be noted that all
five of the countries considered Scandinavian make it into the top ten. The United States came in at number 14. What should we make of this ranking for our
country? The producers of the report
thought certain countries and regions were important enough for detailed
analysis. Separate chapters were included with the titles “Growth and Happiness
in China, 1990-2015,” and “‘Waiting for Happiness’ in Africa.” As for the United States, the authors concluded
that a chapter was necessary to discuss the issue of “Restoring American Happiness.”
The chapter analyzing the United States and its happiness
problem was produced by Jeffrey D. Sachs.
“Jeffrey D. Sachs, Director of The Center for Sustainable Development at
The Earth Institute, Columbia
University, and the Sustainable Development Solutions Network, and Special
Advisor to United Nations
Secretary-General”
Sachs states the problem needing to be addressed.
“The central paradox of the
modern American economy….is this: income per person has increased roughly three
times since 1960, but measured happiness has not risen. The situation has
gotten worse in recent years: per capita GDP is still rising, but happiness is
now actually falling.”
How severe is this decline in perceived happiness? He compares the United States to other
wealthy countries who are members of the OECD.
“While the US ranked third among
the 23 OECD countries surveyed in 2007, it had fallen to 19th of the 34 OECD countries
surveyed in 2016.”
That is a rather significant drop over a relatively few
years. The reason we made it to the 14th
spot in the general survey is because the results are averaged over three years
and residents of the United States claimed to be a lot happier in 2014 than in
2016. This chart is provided.
Sachs points out that the United States focuses most on economic
growth as if that would solve all of its problems. Of the six factors tracked, the United States
has improving scores associated with income and longevity, but the other four,
all of which relate to social issues, are all declining.
“The predominant political
discourse in the United States is aimed at raising economic
growth, with the goal of
restoring the American Dream and the happiness that is supposed to accompany
it. But the data show conclusively that this is the wrong approach. The United States
can and should raise happiness by addressing America’s multi-faceted social crisis—rising
inequality, corruption, isolation, and distrust—rather than focusing
exclusively or even mainly on economic growth, especially since the concrete
proposals along these lines would exacerbate rather than ameliorate the deepening
social crisis.”
Sachs then proceeds to analyze our social problems and
make suggestions on how to ameliorate them and make us happier. One can find his analysis here. Rather than go over one more time the sorts of
things that Democrats and Republicans have been disagreeing about for over a
generation, let’s take another tack.
Consider that all the countries in the top ten in
happiness have strong social support systems.
In particular, all five of the Scandinavian countries (Norway, Denmark,
Sweden, Iceland, and Finland) make that list.
And all levy a large tax on their citizens. And guess what they do with all that tax
money—they provide an astonishing array of services. Those services produce happiness in spite of
the high tax.
So we should ask ourselves a question. If our government provided free, or at easily
affordable costs, healthcare, childcare, education, an income floor if you lose
your job, and a generous pension at retirement, would you be happier? And don’t forget, you would also be
guaranteed at least four weeks of vacation and more family leave than any one
is likely to need. It can be done. The Scandinavian countries do it; their
citizens pay their high taxes and have plenty of money left over to have some
fun.
Believe the data.
The interested reader might find these articles
informative:
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