World Happiness Report, 2019

#1

Post by eoinmurray92 » Tue, Apr 09, 2019, 3:42 PM UTC

World Happiness Report, 2019
kyso.io

Re: World Happiness Report, 2019

#2

Post by temptemptemp111 » Tue, Apr 09, 2019, 5:47 PM UTC

Anyone who has been to over 10 countries or so should see... This is hilariously wrong! I've lived in Scandinavia, Asia, Europe, etc... Denmark is the happiest by a lot? Hilarious!

Re: World Happiness Report, 2019

#3

Post by rdudekul » Tue, Apr 09, 2019, 5:50 PM UTC

Here is the full report:

https://s3.amazonaws.com/happiness-report/2019/WHR19.pdf

Re: World Happiness Report, 2019

#4

Post by Leary » Tue, Apr 09, 2019, 5:55 PM UTC

The World Happiness Report numbers are based only on the Cantril ladder. I don't get why they don't use an average of the Cantril ladder, positive affect, and negative affect.

The Cantril ladder asks respondents the following question:

"Please imagine a ladder, with steps numbered from 0 at the bottom to 10 at the top. The top of the ladder represents the best possible life for you and the bottom of the ladder represents the worst possible life for you. On which step of the ladder would you say you personally feel you stand at this time?"

Is this what people typically associate with "happiness"? This is more like "life satisfaction" to me. [1]

[1]https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/who-happiest-people-world-jon...

Re: World Happiness Report, 2019

#5

Post by nemo1618 » Tue, Apr 09, 2019, 6:04 PM UTC

Interesting that GINI coefficient doesn't seem to be correlated with happiness (except in Europe, for some reason). Reminds me of Taleb's assertion that people don't resent the rich simply for being rich, they resent rich people who have no skin in the game. Perhaps rich Europeans are perceived as having less skin in the game?

Re: World Happiness Report, 2019

#6

Post by [deleted] » Tue, Apr 09, 2019, 6:12 PM UTC

nemo1618 wrote: post #5

Interesting that GINI coefficient doesn't seem to be correlated with happiness (except in Europe, for some reason). Reminds me of Taleb's assertion that people don't resent the rich simply for being rich, they resent rich people who have no skin in the game. Perhaps rich Europeans are perceived as having less skin in the game?

[deleted]

Re: World Happiness Report, 2019

#7

Post by seltzered_ » Tue, Apr 09, 2019, 6:23 PM UTC

Related, I've been fascinated by this plot of 'social thresholds achieved' at the cost of 'biophysical boundaries transgressed' - https://goodlife.leeds.ac.uk . I find it a more level-headed analysis to frame arguments around what resource usage it takes to be a 'happy' country, rather than just aggregating various happiness metrics alone.

"No country in the world currently meets the basic needs of its citizens at a globally sustainable level of resource use."

(summary article: https://theconversation.com/is-it-possible-for-everyone-to-l... )

Re: World Happiness Report, 2019

#8

Post by snambi » Tue, Apr 09, 2019, 6:23 PM UTC

Leary wrote: post #4

The World Happiness Report numbers are based only on the Cantril ladder. I don't get why they don't use an average of the Cantril ladder, positive affect, and negative affect. The Cantril ladder asks respondents the following question: "Please imagine a ladder, with steps numbered from 0 at the bottom to 10 at the top. The top of the ladder represents the best possible life for you and the bottom of the ladder repres…

These are just timepass surveys. Also it depends on who they ask the question to.

Re: World Happiness Report, 2019

#9

Post by eoinmurray92 » Tue, Apr 09, 2019, 6:41 PM UTC

nemo1618 wrote: post #5

Interesting that GINI coefficient doesn't seem to be correlated with happiness (except in Europe, for some reason). Reminds me of Taleb's assertion that people don't resent the rich simply for being rich, they resent rich people who have no skin in the game. Perhaps rich Europeans are perceived as having less skin in the game?

I think increasing GINI might be correlated with GDP growth in most countries (including, Europe, but much let so).

So increasing GINI would correlate with increasing happiness, until you hit the GDP per capita ceiling, and then it becomes anti-correlated.

Re: World Happiness Report, 2019

#10

Post by eoinmurray92 » Tue, Apr 09, 2019, 6:53 PM UTC

Leary wrote: post #4

The World Happiness Report numbers are based only on the Cantril ladder. I don't get why they don't use an average of the Cantril ladder, positive affect, and negative affect. The Cantril ladder asks respondents the following question: "Please imagine a ladder, with steps numbered from 0 at the bottom to 10 at the top. The top of the ladder represents the best possible life for you and the bottom of the ladder repres…

I think you are right, but these studies are still generally interesting I think the dynamics between GDP per capita, GINI and happiness/satisfaction are pretty interesting