Democratic Socialism Supports Robust Capitalism

[Yppej]

Well if the unhappy people remove themselves from the population the happiness score for their country could go up, if it is not offset by increased unhappiness due to the grief of their surviving loved ones.

Kind of like how as abortions went up crimes went down 20 years later as there were fewer unwanted, abused and neglected kids around who grew up and acted out.

[JaneV2.0]

Suicides, except in the most egregious cases, are probably unconnected to politics. Genetics, climate, SSRIs and similar drugs, and despair over being unhappy in a place where most of the population isn't, is more likely.

[LDAHL]

I’ve often wondered if those happiness surveys are at least in part a measure of a culture’s willingness to complain. Some may feel more pressure than others not to express negative views. Say what you will about Americans, but they have never been reticent on that count.

Although I might probably assume making it easier to euthanize the sickest and unhappiest members of the population might have an impact over time.

[ApatheticNoMore]

Noone should be unhappy because their basic needs aren't met. But beyond that much of happiness is their own business. IOW the Nordic countries have it entirely right. The happiness measures may be dubious, but you can't make people be happy, you can only remove some unnecessary misery, that is all.

And no she does not at all convince me I'd like the winter there, when a few days of rain, and I realize a lot of that is all it would take for me to be chronically depressed.

[catherine]

I’ve often wondered if those happiness surveys are at least in part a measure of a culture’s willingness to complain. Some may feel more pressure than others not to express negative views. Say what you will about Americans, but they have never been reticent on that count.

Although I might probably assume making it easier to euthanize the sickest and unhappiest members of the population might have an impact over time.

While it's true they ask a simple question about happiness as a large part of the survey, other factors are:

GDP per capita
Social support
Healthy life expectancy
Freedom to make life choices
Generosity
Perceptions of corruption
Unexplained happiness

[Teacher Terry]

When we were in Norway the older women were grumpy but the men were friendly.

[iris lilies]

When we were in Norway the older women were grumpy but the men were friendly.

Maybe they thought you were a hot babe?

[Teacher Terry]

Even the younger men were nice and helped my girlfriend and I get our luggage down from a overhead rack. I doubt that as it was 5 years ago and we were 60. A young guy even overheard our conversation about getting to our hotel and walked us there.

[LDAHL]

While it's true they ask a simple question about happiness as a large part of the survey, other factors are:

GDP per capita
Social support
Healthy life expectancy
Freedom to make life choices
Generosity
Perceptions of corruption
Unexplained happiness

I wonder how you quantify “unexplained happiness”?

[Rosemary]

If you add the cost of U.S. health insurance to the average family's taxes paid per year, I think it would probably exceed the tax rate of the Scandinavian countries. Then add the cost of daycare, extra time off work, etc. for a complete comparison.

I agree with ANM: the Nordic countries have their priorities straight. Much better to adopt a purpose of making people have good, happy lives than to have a purpose of making the rich even richer.