Worlds's happiest countries 2017, where do you stand?

[Gregor Clegane]

Bogus list.
Apparently Nicaraguans & Colombians are happier than Japanese & South Koreans.

 

[Sky lord]

Almost surely, further tax cuts will increase inequality, social tensions, and the social and economic divide between those with a college degree and those without.

Interesting point that...especially when most of the Trump voters were those without a college degree!

I've given up trying to understand democracy....makes no sense!

All the happiest countries have socialist leanings - free health care and quality education for all children regardless of economic situation of parents.

 

[VCheng]

Interesting point that...especially when most of the Trump voters were those without a college degree!

I've given up trying to understand democracy....makes no sense!

Further discussion with any semblance of intelligence, interesting as it may be, is futile in an environment where name-calling is thanked by Mods themselves.

 

[Sky lord]

108. Iran (ideas?)

Iranians in my experience are quite well educated and modern, but they have a theocratic government....maybe that causes a drop in happiness ? Also of corse sanctions and restrictions over decades and war before that.

Singapore (surprised by this).

They have money, but their government is a little anal plus very competitive especially for children.

 

[A.P. Richelieu]

Norway is the happiest place on Earth, according to a United Nations agency report - toppling neighbour Denmark from the number one position.

The World Happiness Report measures "subjective well-being" - how happy the people are, and why.

Denmark, Iceland, Switzerland and and Finland round out the top five, while the Central African Republic came last.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-39325206

Not everyone can have Sweden as its neighbour and brother!

Nothing has made the Icelanders as happy as their football successes
under their Swedish coach.

Why the Swiss are happy, is inexplicable since they said no to Gripen!

 

[Sky lord]

Bogus list.
Apparently Nicaraguans & Colombians are happier than Japanese & South Koreans.

Well Japanese and South Koreans have very competitive societies. Sometimes happier to have less money and more free time. Of course crime rate very high in Colombia....so not sure if they took that into account...maybe they didn't go into rural areas where it was not safe to go?

Also, India seems too low, we have a lot of stress and pollution and shortage of resources but we also have good social and family support, improving economy, more freedom for individuals.....I wonder how they calculated ....

 

[Hamartia Antidote]

What are your thoughts on the whole "social crisis" thing. The US ranking is still good.

The concluding paragraphs in Chapter 7 are very well-written:

I think people are still reeling from the effects of the 2007 Financial Crisis. Not sure if anything has changed that much in the social spectrum.

Certainly pre-2007 people were doing well financially and didn't think twice about spending crazy money on a big new house to reflect that....these days the average person is far less likely to do that. In fact they may feel a beautiful new house is now out of reach. So the happiness factor is going to take a big hit.

 

[waz]

Iranians in my experience are quite well educated and modern, but they have a theocratic government....maybe that causes a drop in happiness ? Also of corse sanctions and restrictions over decades and war before that.



They have money, but their government is a little anal plus very competitive especially for children.

Yes I'd say that is a fair assessment for Iran. Having been to Singapore several times, and with close family their ever since the state was created, the competition is tough among youngsters. But I always had the feeling that Singaporeans have more leisure time, than for example Japan. It's a little crowded as well.

I think people are still reeling from the effects of the 2007 Financial Crisis. Not sure if anything has changed that much in the social spectrum.

Certainly pre-2007 people were doing well financially and didn't think twice about spending crazy money on a big new house to reflect that....these days people are far less likely to do that. In fact they may feel that beautiful new house is now out of reach.

That's very similar to what is going on here in the UK.

 

[Hamartia Antidote]

That's very similar to what is going on here in the UK.

There are still lots of buyers...but I think the average person is left out. In my area house prices are still going up crazily...but I think the average salary is probably not going up as much to cover it. So people are buying smaller older homes for far more than I paid for mine. I'm sure that doesn't help the happiness factor.

 

[DavidSling]

There are still lots of buyers...but I think the average person is left out. In my area house prices are still going up crazily...but I think the average salary is probably not going up as much to cover it. So people are buying smaller older homes for far more than I paid for mine. I'm sure that doesn't help the happiness factor.

Same in Israel, apartment costs a lot more than it used to, hope signed agreement with China about bring Chinese employees to the country will help the suffering

 

[lastofthepatriots]

Pakistan is the best place on Earth.

 

[DavidSling]

Pakistan is the best place on Earth.

Might be to u, but it has to improve in many aspects to match developed countries

 

[waz]

There are still lots of buyers...but I think the average person is left out. In my area house prices are still going up crazily...but I think the average salary is probably not going up as much to cover it. So people are buying smaller older homes for far more than I paid for mine. I'm sure that doesn't help the happiness factor.

Home ownership is a big thing in the UK and US (similar economies). It's just that ideal people hold i.e. one day that you will own your own home and everything will slot into place. Where in the US are you located?

 

[lastofthepatriots]

Might be to u, but it has to improve in many aspects to match developed countries

HAHAHAHA!

Development has a certain part of happiness, but that is not the overall factor for happiness. Pakistan is definitely not a first world country, but there is so much to see. Pakistani people are happy by freedom and good hospitality. We are simple people, so internet memes may not mean anything to us, but we hang out, drink tea, and make many friends.

 

[DavidSling]

HAHAHAHA!

Development has a certain part of happiness, but that is not the overall factor for happiness. Pakistan is definitely not a first world country, but there is so much to see. Pakistani people are happy by freedom and good hospitality. We are simple people, so internet memes may not mean anything to us, but we hang out, drink tea, and make many friends.

I didn't say happiness has anything to do with being a developed country, I said that Pakistan might be the "best country on earth" to u, but as far as development goes, aka economy, political and national power, it has a long way to go.
Why people always trying to bash the mirror instead of improving and learning from the image it creates.