6. Sep, 2020

World Happiness Rankings

Is Happiness Measurable? - methodology and country rankings laid out to debate

Here are the Happiness Rankings by Country - a report devised edited and sub edited by white or south East Asian middle class men and one woman.

World Happiness Reports were issued in 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016 (an update), 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2020. In addition to ranking countries happiness and well-being levels, each report has contributing authors and most focus on a subject. The data used to rank countries in each report is drawn from the Gallup World Poll,[13] as well as other sources such as the World Values Survey, in some of the reports. The Gallup World Poll questionnaire[14] measures 14 areas within its core questions: (1) business & economic, (2) citizen engagement, (3) communications & technology, (4) diversity (social issues), (5) education & families, (6) emotions (well-being), (7) environment & energy, (8) food & shelter, (9) government and politics, (10) law & order (safety), (11) health, (12) religion & ethics, (13) transportation, and (14) work.

Now remember when SATs in the UK were first introduced and then about a decade later the questions and style of questions were found to be biased towards those pupils who had English as a first language from a middle class background? Concepts, styles of questions and format of the test were taken into account and the SATs became 'more inclusive' and those not from a middle class background were not so marginalised when taking the tests. I suspect this is what will happen to this World Happiness 'TEST'. A survey written by men and one woman, to test whether the citizens are happy with their country's policies and practices will always be biased toward what someone who is writing the 'test' considers should result in happiness. However, there are ways to make the questions more inclusive and fairer to Sub Saharan or South American countries, where I have met the most happiest and contented of people. It's not all about money, but really it is! When you hail from or live in country where the gap between rich and poor is small you are more likely to have accessible ambitions. We often see happiness as all of us being able to walk the gap between ambition and reality, that's me and my family and those that I love. Yet when that gap seems like a chasm, we are often challenged, anxiety grows alongside the fear, which can lead to you guessed it - UNHAPPINESS! Think of Maslow's Hierarchy Theory, if you are constantly trying to find safe and warm housing for you and the next generation, how can you possibly rise toward the love and belonging phase?

When housing in the country where you live, is seemingly accessible and safe for you and future generations this often generates happiness!

In a country which hosts most of the world's billionaires and millionaires the gap between rich and poor is enormous. In a country that is densely populated the housing situation is often in crisis. This is where you are more likely to find the least happy people. Yet in a society where capitalism rules, we are told that the wealthy countries are where you will find happiness. Hence the growth in economic migrants into these countries that are considered 'less happy'. Go where you can where you will find the gap between your reality and your ambitions the smallest and you will find contentment and lifelong happiness.