Measuring happiness

Happiness

During the last ten years more and more scientists, psychologists and researchers claim that in every country’s indicators that measure the progress achieved (usually the GNP- gross national product) should be included an indicator for the happiness of the people.

According to these “specialists” this will help the governments to have a clearer view of their people and thus become more effective. Of course, many politicians till now have said that the indicators such as the GNP do not represent the reality of the common people lives. “When these indicators rise, people become more miserable” said one Greek politician once.

However, happiness is very subjective. For instance, a common child in most of the countries of Africa will consider itself happy if it can have the essential food and clothes, while in Europe children are more demanding. As a consequence, measuring happiness will be something doubtful and it will be easy for some politicians to use this indicator according to what they like.

To sum up, even though every existing indicator is never fully objective about the development of as country and it’s people, a new indicator about happiness will be pretty inaccurate if some strict criteria are not followed, and I am not sure if everybody has in mind these criteria. That’s the main reason for my hesitation towards this happiness indicator and I suggest letting it for now…