The World Happiness Report is published every year, ranking countries by their level of happiness, and often sparks “national pride, disappointment, debate and even competition.” Some have questioned the report’s data collection and economic focus. Another study, the Wealth Adjusted Life Satisfaction Scale (WALS), found different results suggesting that we place too much emphasis on a country’s wealth. “Certain low-income countries are surprisingly efficient at producing happiness, while certain rich countries underperform relative to their resources.” The study identified other key drivers as ways to turn prosperity into well-being, including “the quality of work, a sense of personal freedom, strong social connections, and positive emotional experiences.” “Ultimately, building societies that prioritize the wise use of resources for human well-being may be the clearest path to a more hopeful and humane future.”
Source: The Gentle Art of Blessing – gentleartofblessing.org
