[Singel]

New Zealand has been ranked the 18th happiest country on earth in an international survey.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/story.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10394417

Hmmmm........... interesting :)

[Singel]

Ok, I found the World Map of Happiness : http://www.le.ac.uk/pc/aw57/world/sample.html

[Bergita]

Lovely! I found this link: http://www.le.ac.uk/pc/aw57/world/sample.html It shows all the countries, including life expectancy. South Africa is 109 in the list of happiness, and has a life expectancy of 48.4, as opposed to New Zealand which is ranked 18, and a life expectancy of 79.1. Also, to the UK crowd - ranked 41, with a life expectancy of 78.4.

Very interesting, thanks Singel.

[Bergita]

Oops, sorry Singel, must have been posting while you were.

[Singel]

Lovely! I found this link: http://www.le.ac.uk/pc/aw57/world/sample.html It shows all the countries, including life expectancy. South Africa is 109 in the list of happiness, and has a life expectancy of 48.4, as opposed to New Zealand which is ranked 18, and a life expectancy of 79.1. Also, to the UK crowd - ranked 41, with a life expectancy of 78.4.

Very interesting, thanks Singel.
It shows that wise man thinks alike ;)
:nice1

[StevieD]

Very interesting - but what criteria did they use for happiness? Is it something quantifialble? Interesting and a bit of fun, but you have to consider the method and how the data was interpreted...

[gil]

Good technical question Prof. StevieD!
Actually, there's a great book called "Authentic Happiness" by Martin Seligman
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/0743222989/sr=1-1/qid=1154860649/ref=pd_bowtega_1/026-8571571-6168457?ie=UTF8&s=books
which discusses this issue. May not help with the above-mentioned survey, but interesting nonetheless
Gil

[Moorf]

Does that book say anything about what makes you happy "in the moment" because right now what would make me happy is a very large glass of Port - but tomorrow morning it won't make me quite as happy ;)

[jubjub]

Does that book say anything about what makes you happy "in the moment" because right now what would make me happy is a very large glass of Port - but tomorrow morning it won't make me quite as happy ;)

:cheers

It does seem a bit bizarre to judge a country on a happiness scale, when happiness is such a personal thing? Maybe they just looked at how many smiley faces there were that day?

[pinkpiggy]

What I found most interesting was the fact that the countries at the top of the happiness scale are not 'hot' countries, with switzerland, austria and the scandinavian countries being at the top of the list.

[gil]

Does that book say anything about what makes you happy "in the moment" because right now what would make me happy is a very large glass of Port - but tomorrow morning it won't make me quite as happy ;)

Oh wise one! Happiness "in the moment" belongs to instant gratification, which isn't "happiness". Especially if a hangover follows on the morrow. :laugh


What I found most interesting was the fact that the countries at the top of the happiness scale are not 'hot' countries, with switzerland, austria and the scandinavian countries being at the top of the list.

Pink Piggy, is that because you live in another not 'hot' spot? :nice1

Gil
xx

[Bergita]

Here is another link, better researched I think, that I found months ago: http://www.fundforpeace.org/programs/fsi/fsindex2006.php

This also rates countries by various factors, and if I remember correctly New Zealand was ranked quite high - in this one, the best countries are at the bottom of the chart, worst at the top. Also in this one, NZ beats Aus and the UK. :clap

[Singel]

Here is another link, better researched I think, that I found months ago: http://www.fundforpeace.org/programs/fsi/fsindex2006.php

This also rates countries by various factors, and if I remember correctly New Zealand was ranked quite high - in this one, the best countries are at the bottom of the chart, worst at the top. Also in this one, NZ beats Aus and the UK. :clap
Interesting, thanks for the link :nice1

[jdbob]

Here is another link, better researched I think, that I found months ago: http://www.fundforpeace.org/programs/fsi/fsindex2006.php

I would think that the USA would rank higher in "Criminalization or Delegitimization of the State" :confused:

[pinkpiggy]

Pink Piggy, is that because you live in another not 'hot' spot?

Gil,

Quite right. Althought it hasn't felt that way these past few weeks - even up in here in Bonny Scotland. ;)