Happiness (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
A number of modern governments are starting to talk about balancing the value of GDP (gross domestic product) with attention to measures of general well-being. For example, Bhutan has valued “happiness economics” for decades; Canada and France are discussing the issue as well.
In 1938, Dr. Arlie Bock, director of the Department of Hygiene at Harvard University began studies of healthy men to see what keeps them healthy. The studies continue today. So far, results show that the factors which benefit healthy aging are limiting alcohol, getting adequate exercise, maintaining a healthy weight, a good marriage, education, and mature coping skills. George Vaillant, the current study director says “Warm, intimate relationships are the most important prologue to a good life.”
Economist Richard Easterlin said in the 1970’s “… despite expectations, there is no sign of rising happiness as you get richer through the decades.” There is a growing amount of research suggesting that happiness helps maintain good health.
The world’s aging population is driving much of current thought on government policy. The World Health Organization (WHO) has a Study on Global Aging and Adult Health in order to track well-being in the older populations and the relation to health.
CONCLUSION: It remains to be seen how politicians will respond, but there are increasing studies which demonstrate the importance of happiness over the importance of wealth.
To read the author’s abstract of the article, click on the title of the article. Then, to read the full article, click on the full text icon.
NOTE: Read about the attempt to calculate happiness into economics.
PMID: 21479086.
Summary #591.
