According to a new list of the happiest nations, the United States has considerable room for improvement. Created by 24/7 Wall St., the list relies on data from the new Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development Better Life Index, which is based on measurements of quality of life including housing, income, jobs, community, education, the environment, health, work-life balance, and life satisfaction. According to these standards, the world’s happiest nations are
- Denmark
- Canada
- Norway
- Australia
- The Netherlands
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- Finland
- Israel
- Austria
So What?
Writing for the USA Today, Cathy Lynn Grossman explains why we should not be surprised that the USA isn’t in the top ten: “Given our current malaise about the economy, and our long-standing sense of rampant individualism, is it any surprise that an index that gives high scores for the cultural concept of a social safety net leaves the USA out of the top ranking?”
She closes her article with two challenging questions:
- What defines your happiness?
- Is happiness all that — or does something else matter more?
For reflection:
- Do you think the characteristics used by 24/7 Wall St. to determine which nations are happiest are appropriate? Why or why not?
- What role does your faith play in answering Grossman’s questions? How does the meaning of the word happiness differ when considering how it is used by this study, by our culture, and by your faith tradition?