Happiness Map!
I saw this map in the latest issue of The Economist magazine. A new worldwide poll suggests that growth and income play a big part in boosting people's satisfaction with life and their attitude to the future. Did they really needed a poll to figure this out? However, I would have to add that countries with freedom of choice and basic democracy will also have higher level of life satisfaction, as the map can confirm. However, I was surprised to see the Saudi Arabia among the "happiest' campers. A country where half of its population have no civil rights. Hmmm! I don't get this one. Unless, each country defines happiness differently.
The article concludes the finding this way:
Happiness and optimism are not just different, they can be contradictory. The Chinese are dissatisfied but upbeat; Europeans are happy now but dread tomorrow. Many links between happiness, income and optimism have yet to be teased out. This new data—though not the last word on the subject—should help.The search for happiness is not new phenomena. Remember, In 1776 the American Declaration of Independence argued for “certain inalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness”. I wish more countries will take on this subject more seriously.
7 comments:
Did they really needed a poll to figure this out?
LOL. Excellent post. Pursuit of happiness is key to our nature and it's the main crux of natural laws.
This is fascinating. I am so glad that you posted it.
PS I am with you on Saudi Arabia...
There is a country in Asia, I can't remember which, that does indeed have "happiness index"..just like GDP but they measure the happiness of their people. It's a small country, do you know which one?
Regarding Saudi Arabia and the reason they are red in the map. Either the researcher was from there or the Arabs paid the researcher to make them look good. I can't imagine a country where women are treated like half-human will be happy. However ones choose to define Happiness, Saudi is not a happy place to live in. I Know, I live there.
A female from Saudi Arabia
This is very interesting. The map is different from the one Economist has on their page though, isn't it?
Nader: it's the same map , but my copy is from the original paper...just the colors are different.
A female from land: thanks for visiting my blog and sharing your thoughts. I wish I had your email address...
Anonymous: you are correct, the country is you mentioned is a small kingdom in Asia, I can't remember the name but it was mentioned in the book I was reading about "Happiness"..
I wonder why though happiness seems evident on the faces of children in place where it says it is low, and where it says it is high the children are not outside playing and seem less joyful?
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