More on money buying happiness...need your thoughts

[dpakman91]

so in working on my paper about whether money leads to happiness, i've done a ton of research. There is a clear trend that if looking at the happiest 20 countries in the world, all but FOUR have someo f the higehst GDP's. What is it about the four countries with high happiness and low gdp's that makes them so happy?

Country GDP Happiness Net
Iceland $27,473 94%
Netherlands $23,770 91%
Sweden $25,105 91%
Denmark $30,191 91%
Australia $19,213 90%
Switzerland $36,987 89%
Ireland $21,846 89%
Norway $35,053 88%
Venezuela $6,900 87%
United Kingdom $24,486 87%
Belgium $23,639 86%
Philippines $920 85%
United States $33,070 84%
France $22,751 84%
Finland $23,549 83%
Austria $23,824 81%
Canada $20,789 75%
Poland $4,253 74%
Japan $35,474 72%
Turkey $2,397 71%

Turkey, Poland, Philippines, and Venezuela are poor and happy! What explanation should i use to explain this? Regulated media that controls what social comparisons are avaailable for people there to make? etc...

[Ardentfrost]

I think that's evidence that happiness is more complex than simply achieving money. I don't think I'd look for reasons specifically, though you could mention possiblities (like their labor practices, population densities, weather/climate, etc...)

[dpakman91]

Originally Posted by Ardentfrost

I think that's evidence that happiness is more complex than simply achieving money. I don't think I'd look for reasons specifically, though you could mention possiblities (like their labor practices, population densities, weather/climate, etc...)

oh i know, but i had to pick a more specific topic.,..i can't just do a paper on what DOES buy happiness, so i'm doing whther or not money does. I have to explain some outliers. I'm going to argue that while htere is a CORRELATION, there is not enough evidecnde to say money is the CAUSE.

[JaJae]

psychologically money doesn't counteract your homeostasis. Money has short term effects on happiness, but has no significant effects on long term happiness.

[ballz2wallz]

It's what those people find important in life. They have family, they have life, and if they're still alive, they have their health. That's likely all they need to be happy.

We have such a materialistic view on things that we are not simply satisfied with what we have. We tend to focus on things we don't have, and because we don't have them, we are unhappy.

[dpakman91]

Originally Posted by JaJae

psychologically money doesn't counteract your homeostasis. Money has short term effects on happiness, but has no significant effects on long term happiness.

right, that's what dwight r. lee says, but i'm using that to say that intra-country changes are not relevant to my couuntry-to-country analysis.

[Ardentfrost]

Originally Posted by dpakman91

oh i know, but i had to pick a more specific topic.,..i can't just do a paper on what DOES buy happiness, so i'm doing whther or not money does. I have to explain some outliers. I'm going to argue that while htere is a CORRELATION, there is not enough evidecnde to say money is the CAUSE.

yeah, I think we're in agreement in what you should do then

[dpakman91]

Originally Posted by ballz2wallz

It's what those people find important in life. They have family, they have life, and if they're still alive, they have their health. That's likely all they need to be happy.

We have such a materialistic view on things that we are not simply satisfied with what we have. We tend to focus on things we don't have, and because we don't have them, we are unhappy.

right, but the same could be said of any country...why did that override the poverty in THOSE countries, but not in the majority which are at the bottom of the happiness scale?

[JaJae]

Originally Posted by dpakman91

right, that's what dwight r. lee says, but i'm using that to say that intra-country changes are not relevant to my couuntry-to-country analysis.

Yea it has to do with human nature moreso than nationality I think. Although the culture of the country could promote more happiness. It's an interesting proposition.

[JaJae]

Originally Posted by dpakman91

right, but the same could be said of any country...why did that override the poverty in THOSE countries, but not in the majority which are at the bottom of the happiness scale?

Happiness is based on self reports. People often scale their happiness by comparing to what they consider the norm. Not sure if/how that helps.

[Linzyhop]

maybe based on what they experienced growing up and how it's gotten better for them since their childhood. even if they're still poverty, they're less poor then when they were growing up?

[ballz2wallz]

Originally Posted by Linzyhop

maybe based on what they experienced growing up and how it's gotten better for them since their childhood. even if they're still poverty, they're less poor then when they were growing up?

Interesting proposition.

They feel quality of life has improved for them overall.

[Phantom]

Maybe there are cultural influences that affect the percentage of persons happy?

For 3 of those low income countries, I believe the populations are overwhelmingly catholic, a religion that is fairly comforting for those in poverty. This might be one of many factors...

[dpakman91]

Originally Posted by JaJae

Happiness is based on self reports. People often scale their happiness by comparing to what they consider the norm. Not sure if/how that helps.

social comparisons via media access will be a part of this paper for sure

[DosEquis]

I get a window from a glass... he get a window from a glass.. I get a step.. he get a step... I get clock radio... he cannot afford... great success!

[ballz2wallz]

Originally Posted by DosEquis

I get a window from a glass... he get a window from a glass.. I get a step.. he get a step... I get clock radio... he cannot afford... great success!

It could even be simpler...

They have not had to deal with hunger or thirst as bad as last year, and therefore are much happier. Or they ahve not had a family member die young

[DosEquis]

Originally Posted by ballz2wallz

It could even be simpler...

They have not had to deal with hunger or thirst as bad as last year, and therefore are much happier. Or they ahve not had a family member die young

Yep. I was watching this thing on discovery HD in africa. This guy bought his wife with cows. A bad year is when someone steals a cow or one dies. Their wealth is based upon how many cows they have, while they live in huts made of mud with a grass roof.

[7960]

It could also be due to religion...check how fanatical the religions are in those areas and see if they're happy because their church tells them they're happy. I know Poland ranks up there as a pretty die-hard catholic state, and Turkey is nearly all muslim........ with fanatics (and I'm not attacking muslims at fanatics, I'm also including Poles/Catholics) if the leader says you're happy then you're happy, no matter how you really feel.

The Philippines is also predominantly catholic but I'm not sure about how fanatical they are about their religion.

[dpakman91]

the religion issue is interesting. WIth the exception of those POOR, HAPPY countries, the majority of the countries in the top 20 are very happy, very wealthy, and relatively SECULAR....

[Ardentfrost]

Nothing makes one sadder than religion getting between them and their genitals