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11/07/2008 06:56:58 PM · #1 |
I compiled this list from a businessweek article. I am exactly quoting what is listed as the leading causes of happiness in these nations, ranked in a descending order of happiness index:
[1] Denmark. A high standard of living, negligible poverty, and a broad range of public and social services.
[2] Switzerland. Low crime rate, good infrastructure, and a wealth of outdoor activities.
[3] Austria. Strong health-care system, strict environmental regulations, relaxed atmosphere, an efficient public transport system.
[4] Iceland. Extensive welfare system, generous housing subsidies, very little poverty, even wealth distribution, high literacy rate.
[5] Bahamas. Beautiful weather, laid-back lifestyle, a fusion of African and European cultures, strong family values.
[6] Finland. High quality medical care for cheap, a free educational system, a 100% literacy rate, rare poverty is rare, as well as rare extreme wealth, high taxes to prevent too many riches.
[7] Sweden. High taxes but also high social equality, one of the best welfare systems, a great work/life balance, extensive maternity, paternity leave, and subsidized child care available to all.
[8] Bhutan. A strong sense of national identity, beautiful scenery, a largely unspoiled culture, strict governmental limits on tourism, development, and immigration.
[9] Brunei. Wealthy (oil) and politically stable, family ruled, free medical services, education (even university-level), subsidized rice and housing.
[10] Canada. A strong sense of national identity, abundant natural beauty, strong health care and a low crime rate.
Here is the source.
I am attempting to point in the direction of a commonality that shows up when you look at the happiest nation's profiles. Is it a high government involvement in social and healthcare programs? Or weather? Or low population?
Any thoughts?
ETA: U.S. came in 23rd. China came in No. 82, India ranked 125, and Russia was 167.
Message edited by author 2008-11-07 19:22:46. |
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11/07/2008 07:16:38 PM · #2 |
Weather? 7/10 are North of the 49th parallel, 1 considered sub-arctic. ;oP
... maybe that's it. We're frozen most of the time. |
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11/07/2008 07:18:52 PM · #3 |
I would question any source that states 100% of anything.
If you or anyone else can tell me that any nation, country, continent, or even community has a 100% Literacy rate, well lets just say I'd do things in public that would make you blush.
Matt
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11/07/2008 07:20:23 PM · #4 |
Originally posted by MattO:
I would question any source that states 100% of anything.
If you or anyone else can tell me that any nation, country, continent, or even community has a 100% Literacy rate, well lets just say I'd do things in public that would make you blush.
Matt |
I understand Matt.. and I am glad we will be spared your blushing act;-)
What I compiled is exactly as it is from the source, a business week article. |
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11/07/2008 07:22:22 PM · #5 |
Originally posted by Prash:
Originally posted by MattO:
I would question any source that states 100% of anything.
If you or anyone else can tell me that any nation, country, continent, or even community has a 100% Literacy rate, well lets just say I'd do things in public that would make you blush.
Matt |
I understand Matt.. and I am glad we will be spared your blushing act;-)
What I compiled is exactly as it is from the source, a business week article. |
I wasn't doubting your quote.........just the source, or any source that states 100% of anything, that is something I dont think will ever happen.
Matt
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11/07/2008 09:06:37 PM · #6 |
So no one cares what makes people happy - the ones that are? ;-)
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11/07/2008 09:12:27 PM · #7 |
I know that Finland's literacy rate is extraordinarily high, and many people are at least bi- or trilingual.
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11/07/2008 10:05:44 PM · #8 |
| [4] Iceland - forgot to mention "abundant photographic landscapes" |
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11/07/2008 10:16:58 PM · #9 |
Originally posted by surfdabbler:
[4] Iceland - forgot to mention "abundant photographic landscapes" |
It's countered by exorbitant photographic equipment pricing. |
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11/07/2008 10:26:09 PM · #10 |
I remember reading something like this last year. Denmark can in first then too. They said that the reason that they were so happy was because they have reasonable expectations of what should happen in their lives. If those expectations aren't met, they fight for them until they get them (which isn't hard since they are "reasonable"), and then they are grateful and thankful and satisfied when they get them. I think Americans would be happier if they had more reasonable expectations. Going from minimum wage to millionaire in the blink of an eye, loosing 50 pounds in a week, having everything be perfectly perfect all the time...it's just not reasonable. Yet they still beat themselves up over not attaining those goals.
But I think there's definitely something to be said about public/affordable health care, affordable/free schooling, and an abundance of things to do besides working. The first two take care of huge worries and the third lowers stress. |
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11/07/2008 10:29:34 PM · #11 |
What country has the highest tax rate?
Denmark has the highest income tax rate, with its top-taxed citizens paying 68% of their hard-earned crowns. [b]The basic tax rate begins at 42%[/b].
Source: Guiness World Records
****Can you even imagine paying 42% to 68% income tax?****
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11/07/2008 10:32:03 PM · #12 |
Originally posted by kenskid:
What country has the highest tax rate?
Denmark has the highest income tax rate, with its top-taxed citizens paying 68% of their hard-earned crowns. [b]The basic tax rate begins at 42%[/b].
Source: Guiness World Records
****Can you even imagine paying 42% to 68% income tax?**** |
I can if I'm getting a lot of decent returns that satisfy my needs. |
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11/07/2008 10:53:32 PM · #13 |
Originally posted by MattO:
Originally posted by Prash:
Originally posted by MattO:
I would question any source that states 100% of anything.
If you or anyone else can tell me that any nation, country, continent, or even community has a 100% Literacy rate, well lets just say I'd do things in public that would make you blush.
Matt |
I understand Matt.. and I am glad we will be spared your blushing act;-)
What I compiled is exactly as it is from the source, a business week article. |
I wasn't doubting your quote.........just the source, or any source that states 100% of anything, that is something I dont think will ever happen.
Matt |
One thing to keep in mind, is that there were no decimal places. 99.6% literacy would round to 100% for the article.
Still seems high to me, but then if it was in the high 99 percentile the media is not shy in formatting numbers to make a point. |
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11/07/2008 11:01:36 PM · #14 |
| I just returned from a trip to Bhutan. What a wonderful country! The people were open, curious, engaging, and regardless of circumstance ... happy. |
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11/07/2008 11:34:57 PM · #15 |
I would still rather live in America.... :)
Message edited by author 2008-11-07 23:35:08. |
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11/07/2008 11:47:42 PM · #16 |
| Didn't Iceland just get bailed out of a financial collapse by the Russians? |
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11/08/2008 12:05:07 AM · #17 |
Originally posted by Spazmo99:
Didn't Iceland just get bailed out of a financial collapse by the Russians? |
I think you are right. However, another one in the list, Bhutan, had 81.4% of GDP in debts (2004 figure), and had 31.7% people living below the poverty line (2003 figure), still figured in the happiest nations list. Heres the source.
Doesnt tell much about a strict relationship between material wealth and happiness, does it? ;-)
Message edited by author 2008-11-08 00:05:40.
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11/08/2008 02:10:52 AM · #18 |
Originally posted by kenskid:
What country has the highest tax rate?
Denmark has the highest income tax rate, with its top-taxed citizens paying 68% of their hard-earned crowns. [b]The basic tax rate begins at 42%[/b].
Source: Guiness World Records
****Can you even imagine paying 42% to 68% income tax?**** |
I can and I do. :)
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11/08/2008 02:17:04 AM · #19 |
Originally posted by Azrifel:
Originally posted by kenskid:
What country has the highest tax rate?
Denmark has the highest income tax rate, with its top-taxed citizens paying 68% of their hard-earned crowns. [b]The basic tax rate begins at 42%[/b].
Source: Guiness World Records
****Can you even imagine paying 42% to 68% income tax?**** |
I can and I do. :) |
Kudos, Sander!
I am curious. Do you ever wish you lived in a country like U.S. where taxes are much lower (relatively)? Or are you happy with a bit more that the government does for you in return for high taxes?
Message edited by author 2008-11-08 02:18:54. |
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11/08/2008 03:25:20 AM · #20 |
Originally posted by Prash:
Originally posted by Azrifel:
Originally posted by kenskid:
What country has the highest tax rate?
Denmark has the highest income tax rate, with its top-taxed citizens paying 68% of their hard-earned crowns. [b]The basic tax rate begins at 42%[/b].
Source: Guiness World Records
****Can you even imagine paying 42% to 68% income tax?**** |
I can and I do. :) |
Kudos, Sander!
I am curious. Do you ever wish you lived in a country like U.S. where taxes are much lower (relatively)? Or are you happy with a bit more that the government does for you in return for high taxes? |
KNowing that me, my family and my fellow citizens are guaranteed excellent health care, free high quality education, and countless other benefits...well, that would be good enough for me.
I think that there is some transparency in the way the govt handles money in these countries, people have a sence that thier money is going to the right places, and not in the pockets of a few, or to pay for sensless wars..etc |
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11/08/2008 01:39:20 PM · #21 |
Originally posted by kolasi:
Originally posted by Prash:
Originally posted by Azrifel:
Originally posted by kenskid:
What country has the highest tax rate?
Denmark has the highest income tax rate, with its top-taxed citizens paying 68% of their hard-earned crowns. [b]The basic tax rate begins at 42%[/b].
Source: Guiness World Records
****Can you even imagine paying 42% to 68% income tax?**** |
I can and I do. :) |
Kudos, Sander!
I am curious. Do you ever wish you lived in a country like U.S. where taxes are much lower (relatively)? Or are you happy with a bit more that the government does for you in return for high taxes? |
KNowing that me, my family and my fellow citizens are guaranteed excellent health care, free high quality education, and countless other benefits...well, that would be good enough for me.
I think that there is some transparency in the way the govt handles money in these countries, people have a sence that thier money is going to the right places, and not in the pockets of a few, or to pay for sensless wars..etc |
It is nice to hear your opinion.. and hopefully this is not because you dont like U.S.:=)
Thanks for sharing.
Message edited by author 2008-11-08 13:39:34. |
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11/08/2008 01:43:59 PM · #22 |
Originally posted by Azrifel:
Originally posted by kenskid:
What country has the highest tax rate?
Denmark has the highest income tax rate, with its top-taxed citizens paying 68% of their hard-earned crowns. [b]The basic tax rate begins at 42%[/b].
Source: Guiness World Records
****Can you even imagine paying 42% to 68% income tax?**** |
I can and I do. :) |
...but you're happy. Right?
There needs to be a taxes to happiness ratio.
I think in well run country that provides good services at a relatively high tax rate will have happier people than those countries with low tax rates and less service. |
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11/08/2008 01:54:47 PM · #23 |
Originally posted by pawdrix:
Originally posted by Azrifel:
Originally posted by kenskid:
What country has the highest tax rate?
Denmark has the highest income tax rate, with its top-taxed citizens paying 68% of their hard-earned crowns. [b]The basic tax rate begins at 42%[/b].
Source: Guiness World Records
****Can you even imagine paying 42% to 68% income tax?**** |
I can and I do. :) |
...but you're happy. Right?
There needs to be a taxes to happiness ratio.
I think in well run country that provides good services at a relatively high tax rate will have happier people than those countries with low tax rates and less service. |
I started to wonder that too. And thats why I started this thread. It is interesting to know that people are happy paying high taxes.
Btw: happy 2nd b'day, Steve;-) |
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11/08/2008 02:10:29 PM · #24 |
Originally posted by pawdrix:
Originally posted by Azrifel:
Originally posted by kenskid:
What country has the highest tax rate?
Denmark has the highest income tax rate, with its top-taxed citizens paying 68% of their hard-earned crowns. [b]The basic tax rate begins at 42%[/b].
Source: Guiness World Records
****Can you even imagine paying 42% to 68% income tax?**** |
I can and I do. :) |
...but you're happy. Right?
There needs to be a taxes to happiness ratio.
I think in well run country that provides good services at a relatively high tax rate will have happier people than those countries with low tax rates and less service. |
Unfortunatly goverments have a poor record of providing good services at effective costs. |
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11/08/2008 03:11:33 PM · #25 |
The whole deal still seems subjective. The author of the study picked criteria the author deemed applicable to finding the happiest country. When one of the "happiest" countries happens to have a government that is quite strict, and restrictive of development, outside influence, and whatever else they want to restrict, it seems to me that the author of the study did not value personal freedom very highly.
Personally, I would be miserable in some of the author's choices.
Does this mean that I think that living in my country is the only way to be happy? Absolutely not. But to gauge the accuracy of the results, one needs to see what was studied, how things were weighted, and then see if the reader feels the same way.
I could publish a study that says the United States is the happiest country on earth, because we have Disneyland and Disney World, the two happiest places on earth. Next would come France and Japan, because they only have one Disney park each. It would be obvious to just about everyone except Disney investors, and perhaps some Disney employees, that my study was flawed.
Before statistics are accepted, be sure of the source and the methodology. (FYI: If a US mutual fund is worth $100 in year one, crashes to $50 in year two, and recovers to $100 in year three, its two year performance is +25%. You still only have your original $100, but there was a 50% loss and then a 100% gain, so 100 minus 50 equals 50 and divided by 2 is 25%. (100 - 50)/2 = 25... and yes folks that is how it is done...)
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