Canada Ranked Among Top Ten in 'Happiness Index'

[Sir Bandelot]

Another recent poll shows Canada in the top ten list of countries with the happiest people. Canada ranked 2nd - just behind Denmark which was #1.

"24/7 Wall St. analyzed the new Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development Better Life Index to objectively determine the happiest countries in the world. The Index is based on 11 measurements of quality of life including housing, income, jobs, community, education, the environment, health, work-life balance, and life satisfaction."

Here is a list of the top ten countries in this study-

1. Denmark

2. Canada

3. Norway

4. Australia

5. Netherlands

6. Sweden

7. Switzerland

8. Finland

9. Israel

10. Austria

Link to full article-

US doesn't make cut for happiest nations list

When I look at this list I think it says something, there is a consistent political philosophy in these countries with perhaps the exception of Israel. But I am no expert on Israel so I don't know about that. But for the rest it says to me, these are social democracies.

Could it be that a democratic society with some socialist programs is the best way for people to live?

I say SOME social programs because, I don't believe in the nanny-state. But I do believe that a wealthy society should have at least universal health care as a fundamental right, free education up to high school and at least a minimum welfare safety net for those who fall down. But knowing where the fine line is between benefits and abuses is always the challenge. In this regard Canada is on the right road... up to now.

[segnosaur]

Another recent poll shows Canada in the top ten list of countries with the happiest people. Canada ranked 2nd - just behind Denmark which was #1.

Link to full article-

US doesn't make cut for happiest nations list

Keep in mind that while these sorts of lists may be interesting, there's a lot here that we don't really know.

They based their ranking on multiple factors, such as: Life Satisfaction, debt, disposable income, life expectancy, etc. But we are never told (at least in that article, although the information might be elsewhere) just how those factors are combined. Is "life expectancy" more important than "life satisfaction"? Less important? The same? We aren't told.

Secondly, we aren't told just how "close" the U.S. is to making the list, nor how close the countries making up the rankings are. It could be that all western countries are almost the same in their overall assessments (and the differences between #1 and #10 in the list are really tiny).

Could it be that a democratic society with some socialist programs is the best way for people to live?

I say SOME social programs because, I don't believe in the nanny-state. But I do believe that a wealthy society should have at least universal health care as a fundamental right, free education up to high school and at least a minimum welfare safety net for those who fall down.

Possibly. But then, the U.S. has free education and a host of welfare programs. (And while their health care system is not totally free, they do have medicare/medicaid to help many of the disadvantaged.) Yet they didn't make the list.

Not that Canada shouldn't take some pride in our accomplishments, we should just take rankings like this with a grain of salt.

[Sir Bandelot]

the U.S. has free education and a host of welfare programs. (And while their health care system is not totally free, they do have medicare/medicaid to help many of the disadvantaged.) Yet they didn't make the list.

It may have also to do with work/life balance, as I get the impression that people working US are often expected to work longer hours, with less vacation time.

Not that Canada shouldn't take some pride in our accomplishments, we should just take rankings like this with a grain of salt.

Canada does consistently well in studies like these, while the US does not. I'm just curious about why that is, since America is supposed to be the best country in the world to live in. At least, by some people's reckoning.

[Pliny]

According to this North Korean Poll. The happiest country in the world is China and the least happy country is America. North Korea was second, Cuba third.

Golly gosh! Who to believe???

The OECD is a political organization that owes it's existence to the happiest countries. Isn't that amazing that your poll shows they happen to be the same ones as contribute the most to their existence. Countries that tend toward supporting government "social" programs, of which they are one, seem to rank highest.

We need a scientific poll.

[Sir Bandelot]

According to this North Korean Poll. The happiest country in the world is China and the least happy country is America. North Korea was second, Cuba third.

Golly gosh! Who to believe???

The OECD is a political organization that owes it's existence to the happiest countries. Isn't that amazing that your poll shows they happen to be the same ones as contribute the most to their existence. Countries that tend toward supporting government "social" programs, of which they are one, seem to rank highest.

We need a scientific poll.

Yes, reports such as these can be politicized. One report can be thought of as a "pro-western" report, the other perhaps "pro-eastern".

Can we trust such a report, or is it slanted towards one particular world view or definition of happiness? One culture may define happiness completely differently than another. Happiness may be relative to what you know and understand. We can only gauge what life is like for us within the framework of our personal experiences, and not having lived elsewhere, may never know what else is out there.

But still, we can look at these results within the context of each report. IE. separately, not by comparing the two. The western report is based on people's responses to a survey under the criteria listed above. The North Korean report does not give any information on how the data was collected. No information was provided on what the criteria were for assessing 'happiness'. So there is no way to criticize it beyond this.

[bush_cheney2004]

...Canada does consistently well in studies like these, while the US does not. I'm just curious about why that is, since America is supposed to be the best country in the world to live in. At least, by some people's reckoning.

Yet 25,000 Canadians emigrate to the USA yearly, with far fewer Americans (with 10X the population) returning the favor. I guess polls about "happiness" only go so far, by some people's reckoning.

Edited June 8, 2011 by bush_cheney2004

[Sir Bandelot]

I guess polls about "happiness" only go so far, by some people's reckoning.

I've heard that Americans do not learn much about other countries. That could be a factor. As said in my previous post you don't know how bad you've got it in comparison to others, unless you've walked a mile in their shoes.

I suspect the reason that Americans stay home anyway, despite their unhappiness is because of ingrained patriotism, which we Canadians have comparatively little of. And Americans might be just afraid to move to Canada.

[bush_cheney2004]

I've heard that Americans do not learn much about other countries. That could be a factor. As said in my previous post you don't know how bad you've got it in comparison to others, unless you've walked a mile in their shoes.

And I've heard that millions of Americans actually come from other countries, so they know quite a lot.

I suspect the reason that Americans stay home anyway, despite their unhappiness is because of ingrained patriotism, which we Canadians have comparatively little of. And Americans might be just afraid to move to Canada.

Then apparently many other nationals feel the same way. The numbers don't lie.....312,000,000 vs. 34,000,000. I suspect that polls about happiness are a poor substitute for reality.

[Sir Bandelot]

And I've heard that millions of Americans actually come from other countries, so they know quite a lot.

Millions, out of 300 million?

The numbers don't lie.

Your numbers, my numbers, someone elses numbers. Maybe numbers don't lie, but for the way people use them.

[bush_cheney2004]

Millions, out of 300 million?

The total foreign born US population is more than the entire population of Canada, and grows by over 2 million per year (legal and illegal).

Your numbers, my numbers, someone elses numbers. Maybe numbers don't lie, but for the way people use them.

The numbers are a direct challenge to the very notion of "happiness". I hear that heaven is a very happy place too, but few are in a hurry to get there.

[Sir Bandelot]

The total foreign born US population is more than the entire population of Canada, and grows by over 2 million per year (legal and illegal).

Yeah I bet those 12 million illegal Mexicans know all about Canada...

I hear that heaven is a very happy place too, but few are in a hurry to get there.

And we here in Canada prefer to keep it that way!

[bush_cheney2004]

Yeah I bet those 12 million illegal Mexicans know all about Canada...

There's more to the world than just Canada.

And we here in Canada prefer to keep it that way!

Yet you focus your happiness comparisons on the USA...I wonder why?

[Sir Bandelot]

I wasn't really trying to pick on the US specifically, other than that our countries are so similar in many ways, yet this poll shows there is such a big difference. I wanted to understand the reasons why. But it seems most here don't want to talk about that. I wonder why that is?

Oh well. Now back to 40 posts on "why do people shave differently..."

[msj]

I suspect the reason that Americans stay home anyway, despite their unhappiness is because of ingrained patriotism, which we Canadians have comparatively little of. And Americans might be just afraid to move to Canada.

I think the real reason Americans stay home is because they can't afford the capital loss on the sale of their house and then can't afford to buy a house in Canada with the dollar just over par!

[bush_cheney2004]

I wasn't really trying to pick on the US specifically, other than that our countries are so similar in many ways, yet this poll shows there is such a big difference. I wanted to understand the reasons why. But it seems most here don't want to talk about that. I wonder why that is?

Maybe because differences are OK? I suspect that Canada is the greatest/happiest country in the world...for most Canadians. And most Americans have many reasons to feel the exact same way. The subject poll excludes a large portion of the world, which has many other "happy" places. The OECD brand of happiness doesn't sound like a lot of fun for me.

Oh well. Now back to 40 posts on "why do people shave differently..."

Which nation has the best shaving products?

[bush_cheney2004]

Americans travel a lot....and many others travel to America.

Top 10 Tourist Destinations in The World

2008 rank 	Country 	Arrivals (in millions) 
---------       ------------    --------
1. 	        France 	        81.9 
2. 	        United States 	56.0
3. 	        Spain 	        58.7
4. 	        China 	        54.7
5. 	        Italy 	        43.7
6. 	        United Kingdom 	30.9 
7. 	        Ukraine 	23.1
8. 	        Turkey 	        22.2
9. 	        Germany 	24.4
10.             Mexico 	        21.4 

Edited June 9, 2011 by bush_cheney2004

[Guest American Woman]

Americans travel a lot....and many others travel to America.

When I was in Buenos Aires this winter, our driver pointed out the American embassy and said that if it was the time of day that visas were being issued, the line would be snaked around the block - every day. These are people wanting to just visit the United States. He said the majority are turned down.

I always chuckle when Canadians say Americans don't travel much; that we don't care as much about other countries, learning about other countries, experiencing other cultures as Canadians.

Yeah, right. Canadians are learning and experiencing so much culture during their week at an all inclusive in Mexico et al. They are going for the weather in a lot of instances - and where they can get it the cheapest. The United States, on the other hand, has it all (almost) - from tropical islands to snow capped mountains to lakes and oceans and skiing and surfing. We don't have to leave our country for those experiences. Not many countries can say that. When I was in Europe, a lot of the people I met thought that experiencing the different states offered what they traveled from country to country for.

But all that aside, Americans do travel abroad. They work abroad. They live abroad. Just as you said.

As for the happiness factor - I always have to laugh at that. How do you put a measurement on happiness? Two people who are just as happy could, and most likely would, answer the same questions differently. Who determines what individual happiness is dependent on/based on? Is someone who is content in their job situation happier than someone who says they aspire to move on? It's the old 'is the glass half empty or half full' criteria - people see things differently for different reasons. Happiness is a frame of mind, an individual thing, and I would wager that some people who we would see as having the least reasons to be happy are the happiest.

I also think someone whose identity is dependent on being happy would be more likely to say they are happy. Even if they aren't any happier than the next person.

Fact is, I sincerely doubt if Canadians in general are any happier than Americans in general, and I'd be saying the same thing if Americans' happiness had been put above Canadians'.

I think that the rankings have added to some Canadians' happiness, though.

Edited June 12, 2011 by American Woman

[Pliny]

Americans travel a lot....and many others travel to America.

Top 10 Tourist Destinations in The World

2008 rank 	Country 	Arrivals (in millions) 
---------       ------------    --------
1. 	        France 	        81.9 
2. 	        United States 	56.0
3. 	        Spain 	        58.7
4. 	        China 	        54.7
5. 	        Italy 	        43.7
6. 	        United Kingdom 	30.9 
7. 	        Ukraine 	23.1
8. 	        Turkey 	        22.2
9. 	        Germany 	24.4
10.             Mexico 	        21.4 

Perhaps this is why Barack Obama feels so close to France.

But serioulsy why is the US #2 with 56 million and Spain #3 with 58.7?

[Guest American Woman]

Perhaps this is why Barack Obama feels so close to France.

But serioulsy why is the US #2 with 56 million and Spain #3 with 58.7?

The original chart shows stats from 2007 and 2008 - for some reason only the 2007 figures are showing up in the post - and in 2007 Spain had more tourists, but in 2008 the U.S. did, which is why the U.S. is showing up as #2 on the chart. link to chart with 2008 stats

[WIP]

Consider these happy clappy numbers for Canada as something that we can look at in the rear view mirror! The same economic factors that have eliminated the middle class in the U.S. are at work in Canada also; and nations with a small wealthy class and a large population watching their standards of living decline don't usually rank as high on "happiness."

[Guest American Woman]

Consider these happy clappy numbers for Canada as something that we can look at in the rear view mirror! The same economic factors that have eliminated the middle class in the U.S. are at work in Canada also; and nations with a small wealthy class and a large population watching their standards of living decline don't usually rank as high on "happiness."

You'd likely be surprised - I'm guessing there are people in 'poor' nations who are a lot happier than people in our upper and middle economic classes. If money is the determinant, then what you are saying is correct. However, it's true that money can't buy happiness. Perhaps those with more money have more stress than someone who has a lower stress/lower paying job. So which person is "happier?"

As I said before, who determines what makes one happy? Different things make different people happy and that's why I think a poll to determine which country is happiest is pretty meaningless. Happiness is very subjective and how happy one would rate them self is also subjective - two people who in reality are just as happy may answer the question(s) differently.

[Sir Bandelot]

Well I did already raise the possibility that happiness is only relative to what you know, and that might be why people in China and North Korea consider themselves happier than people in America.

But within the context of this study, westernized nations, and by the criteria they used, should level the playing field, at least for western nations. So that data raises the question.

As for Americans not getting out much, that was just speculation since the rumour is that American people don't learn much about other countries when they're going to school. But the other reason I said that is that I think it came from the POTUS himself a few years ago, suggesting that Americans should stay in America, and spend their vacation money at home. For economic reasons, yes... but it's still a message to not go elsewhere, and it adds to the feeling of distrust of people from foreign lands. With such a strong sense of patriotism, leaving your own country is somewhat akin to leaving your mama.

[bush_cheney2004]

.... For economic reasons, yes... but it's still a message to not go elsewhere, and it adds to the feeling of distrust of people from foreign lands. With such a strong sense of patriotism, leaving your own country is somewhat akin to leaving your mama.

Then why do so many leave their own country for the United States? To be less "happy"...I doubt that.

[Pliny]

You'd likely be surprised - I'm guessing there are people in 'poor' nations who are a lot happier than people in our upper and middle economic classes. If money is the determinant, then what you are saying is correct. However, it's true that money can't buy happiness. Perhaps those with more money have more stress than someone who has a lower stress/lower paying job. So which person is "happier?"

As I said before, who determines what makes one happy? Different things make different people happy and that's why I think a poll to determine which country is happiest is pretty meaningless. Happiness is very subjective and how happy one would rate them self is also subjective - two people who in reality are just as happy may answer the question(s) differently.

I agree with this post and also add on my own without putting words in your mouth that a government redistributing wealth does not for happiness make.

I believe WIPs position is entirely about money and money alone. Government needs to more or less forget about trying to create happiness with money, or anything for that matter, and get out of the way.

What about the less advantaged? They will be happier without the stress of having to deal with government for their wherewithal and will probably feel better if their positon improves under their own steam. It's a source of pride. Individuals in society will help as best they can and if they don't the society isn't worth living in.

[Pliny]

The original chart shows stats from 2007 and 2008 - for some reason only the 2007 figures are showing up in the post - and in 2007 Spain had more tourists, but in 2008 the U.S. did, which is why the U.S. is showing up as #2 on the chart. link to chart with 2008 stats

kay, thanks.