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And the world's happiest country is..
"Though by no means the happiest country in the world, from a global perspective the United States looks pretty good," Inglehart said. "The country is not only prosperous; it ranks relatively high in gender equality, tolerance of ethnic and social diversity and has high levels of political freedom." "Ultimately, the most important determinant of happiness is the extent to which people have free choice in how to live their lives," Inglehart said.
The survey reveals that Denmark, with its democracy, social equality and peaceful atmosphere, is the happiest country in the world.
Development, reedom, nd ising Happiness
A lobal erspective (1981 –2007)
Ronald Inglehart, Roberto Foa, Christopher eterson, and Christian Welzel
This societal-level shift is linked with individual-level value changes, from giving top priority to economic and physical security toward giving top priority to self-expression values that emphasize participation, freedom of expression, and quality of life. Under conditions of scarcity, people focus on survival needs, giving top priority to economic and physical security. Economic development increases people’s sense of existential ecurity, leading them to shift their emphasis from survival values toward self-expression values and free choice, which is a more direct way to maximize happiness and life satisfaction. ... Since 1981, self-expression values have become increasingly widespread around the world,contributing to democratization, growing support or gender equality, and growing acceptance of outgroups such as gays and lesbians Inglehart elzel, 2005). Inglehart (1990) found hat happiness is strongly related to democracy (Barro, 999; Frey & tutzer, 2000; Inglehart lingemann, 2000). ... Like democratization, social tolerance broadens the range of choices available to people, enhancing happiness. Accordingly, Inglehart and Welzel 2005)found that support or gender
equality and tolerance of outgroups were strongly linked with happiness —not just because tolerant people are happier, but because living in tolerant society enhances everyone ’s freedom of choice. Similarly, Schyns 1998) argued that gender quality is linked with happiness.
World Value Survey
http://www.worldvaluessurvey.com/
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