World's happiest countries

[Hum]

Happiness means having opportunity ? to get an education, to be an entrepreneur. What's more satisfying than having a big idea and turning it into a thriving business, knowing all the way that the harder you work, the more reward you can expect?

With this in mind, six years ago researchers at the Legatum Institute, a London-based nonpartisan think tank, set out to rank the happiest countries in the world. But because "happy" carries too much of a touchy-feely connotation, they call it "prosperity."

The objective of the institute's work (which is part of billionaire Christopher Chandler's Dubai-based Legatum Group) was to figure out what it is that makes happy countries happy ? so that the less fortunate corners of the globe might have a benchmark to work toward.

The resulting Legatum Prosperity Index is based on a study of 142 countries comprising 96% of global population. Nations are analyzed and ranked on 89 indicators in eight categories, such as education, government and economics. The inputs for the index are both objective and subjective. It's not enough to just look at per capita GDP or unemployment rates. It also matters how hard people think it is to find jobs, or how convinced they are that hard work can bring success. :)

1. Norway

2. Denmark

3. Sweden

4. Australia

5. New Zealand

6. Canada

7. Finland

8. The Netherlands

9. Switzerland

10. Ireland

more

[ArialBlue]

I like this.

[Detection]

I'm happy but UK is not there on the list ? :p

[Hum]

Denmark and Sweden have a lot of free sex.

Switzerland has trillions of other people's money.

And the Netherlands are too high to care. :p

[Colin McGregor]

According to Legatum, the U.S. has slipped in the areas of governance, personal freedom, and most troubling, in entrepreneurship & opportunity. America is supposed to be the land of opportunity, but Legatum notes "a decline in citizens' perception that working hard gets you ahead."

lol

[compl3x]

Aus No. 4. Yay.

[sanctified Veteran]

Notice how almost all if not all of these countries deviate from the megalopolis model?

Cities are a logistical and psychical nightmare. We should start talking about hyper-towns.

[bandit_liberty_rumble]

Maybe "socialism" isn't so bad after all...

[sanctified Veteran]

Maybe "socialism" isn't so bad after all...

Socialism (the real thing, not the deformed abstract the media tries to sell) is great. But it's only effective in manageable communities. That's not a criticism to socialism rather than a jab against the US. THERE IS SUCH THING AS TOO MUCH.

Just as a physical structure can crush itself because of its own weight a country can become unstable to the point of no return if it grows too much.

[McKay]

I'm happy but UK is not there on the list ? :p

You know much we as a people like to complain. Although we do have an almost unique gift to get genuinely excited by the smallest things, a hot drink, a chocolate offered from a box.

[Ryoken]

Canada would have moved up a few spots now that the NHL is back..

[Growled Member]

I'm glad some people somewhere in the world are happy. It must be nice.

[Detection]

You know much we as a people like to complain. Although we do have an almost unique gift to get genuinely excited by the smallest things, a hot drink, a chocolate offered from a box.

I know, I have to put myself in check sometimes when I start complaining about trivial things like the net misbehaving or the tv signal being screwy, I remind myself of places or situations I would hate to be in, such as having to walk 10 miles for a drink etc

Puts things back in perspective

[Nashy]

'MURICA!

Number 4. I'm pretty happy in Australia. People who haven't been here certainly need to give us a go.

[Yorak]

They must have asked around some random ghetto in America. I guarantee those people are not happy with the loads of free money they get from the government. Yay, freebies!

[neo1911]

India must be first from last. The potential is there but absolutely zero political will.

[Rippleman]

small populations for sure seems to be the common ground. In the top 10 spots, Its kind of surprising that Canada, having biggest population (35 mill) + 2nd biggest land mass in the world, scored so high. You would think a population so spread out would have similar problems with not being very unified.

[+Mirumir Subscriber¹]

All these ratings are a tool of the power elite aimed at supporting their legitimacy.

In this case, they are promoting/defending big governments. It's the single most common denominator of the top performers. If you had to list countries by the percentage of employees working for the government, you would see a similar arrangement.

As for Norway, if it were such a wonderful place, Anders Breivik wouldn't have happened there.

And if they say they are linking happiness to prosperity and rely on GDP per capita, then why don't we see either Qatar (world's top GDP per capita PPP performer) or UAE in the top 20? Because these countries are not western social liberal democracies, that's why!

[Rippleman]

All these ratings are a tool of the power elite aimed at supporting their legitimacy.

In this case, they are promoting/defending big governments. It's the single most common denominator of the top performers. If you had to list countries by the percentage of employees working for the government, you would see a similar arrangement.

As for Norway, if it were such a wonderful place, Anders Breivik wouldn't have happened there.

And if they say they are linking happiness to prosperity and rely on GDP per capita, then why don't we see either Qatar (world's top GDP per capita PPP performer) or UAE in the top 20? Because these countries are not western social liberal democracies, that's why!

they did post how they made the ratings.... not everything is a conspiracy.

[_neutrino Veteran]

at least for once it is news in a good light rather than negative news :p

[Astra.Xtreme]

I lol'd at this:

America is supposed to be the land of opportunity, but Legatum notes "a decline in citizens' perception that working hard gets you ahead."

Not surprised at all since this country has become extremely divided within the last few years. I'm actually surprised it's not further down on the list.

[sanctified Veteran]

All these ratings are a tool of the power elite aimed at supporting their legitimacy.

Curiously I agree. But not as a conspiracy supporter. The effectiveness of these societies are legitimate. Their geographical and political circumstances are fertile grounds for stability. A population that cant grow too much, a physical territory that cant expand, enough resources. Everything is manageable.

Happiness is found in spareness, not in overflow.

[ahhell]

They must have asked around some random ghetto in America. I guarantee those people are not happy with the loads of free money they get from the government. Yay, freebies!

That attitude right there is EXACTLY what is wrong with your country.

[+Mirumir Subscriber¹]

Curiously I agree. But not as a conspiracy supporter. The effectiveness of these societies are legitimate. Their geographical and political circumstances are fertile grounds for stability. A population that cant grow too much, a physical territory that cant expand, enough resources. Everything is manageable.

Happiness is found in spareness, not in overflow.

Happiness is relative and subjective, and, it's just the title. What they've actually measured is nation's prosperity and factored in wealthfare-state social programs.

I, for one, think that happiness and success measured in material terms are two different concepts. So, if I had a chance to come up with a world happiness rating, I'd definitely put India and China in the top ten, because these people know that happiness cannot be bought for money :)

[drazgoosh]

Previously having lived in Australia, I can see why it's on the list. I can also see why the UK isn't :p

Never would've imagined that the Scandinavian countries would be that happy though. Quite surprised.