Denmark Is Considered The Happiest Country. You'll Never Guess Why

Yes it is. Opportunity would be how he earns a steady supply of food and healthcare. Opportunity could be low-level employment. He will never have any self worth (and therefore happiness) if he doesn't achieve these things on his own. But all of this is besides the point, as we can all agree that happiness does not stem from paternity leave and keeping a positive spin on the weather and therefore this study is moronic.

 

Have you been to Denmark? I admit I haven't but have met Danes and a lot of people who have been to Denmark and haven't heard anyone complain about the roads or that there aren't places to go.

Interesting, the Heritage Foundation ranks Denmark as the 9th Economically freest country in the world.
http://www.heritage.org/index/country/denmark

Do you have counter information, stats and other data, that would show that Danes aren't really happy?

 

Considering you said yourself that Danes are happy. Do you then have evidence that counters the study by showing that they aren't?

 

such as your study? I have never heard of psychology defined as 'being on a high horse'

lack of evidence is evidence.

Your statement doesn't counter what I wrote, so why you telling me? go tell socialist-touting bongman.

 

My sister used to live in Switzerland, and had a child there. While the maternity leave policy is very family-friendly, she tells me the tax code is also written to strongly encourage one parent to stay home with the kids. In her situation, the family was better off financially if she did not work. That probably doesn't hurt happiness and may be wise governance ultimately, but to American ears that sounds rather paternalistic. Of course, recycling is also compulsory, you're not allowed to run your dryer in the daytime, and they have cameras everywhere to enforce speed limits. So a lot of things they do sound paternalistic.

 

I never got caught...but when you do...it gets CRAZY expensive.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-10960230

 

This is only true for people who are born into a culture that puts an emphasis on these things. We associate work and self-reliance and earning your keep with happiness so this is true - but that's not the case everywhere (or most places) in the world. Happiness comes from a lot of other different things - like being able to enjoy life or spend time with family or raise children or whatever else.

I disagree. Being able to experience the entire first year of your kids' life provides an incredible and completely irreplaceable experience in life. Low expectations also plays a key role in happiness. Some of the happiness people I've seen were poor people in West Africa - kids there that play with sticks for hours are happier than kids here with all the latest gadgets and toys. This is in part because the kids there are able to find joy in what they have whereas the kids here always want something more. That's not to say they are more materially better off or will live a better or longer or healthier life or anything like that. But in the moment, they are often far happier.

You're trying to quantify happiness based on material things, but that's not what generates it. It is a combination of a whole bunch of things, and yes, paternity leave and finding contentment in what you have (justifying the weahter) is a huge part of it.

 

euro trip

 

I was there last week - the roads seemed to function fine.

Is this an actual conversation?

Also, the real reason why Denmark is happy: They have the kroner not the euro.

 

freedom, opportunity, and success is what I said. None of those are material things.

 

you wrote this:

you called Denmark socialist

 

The study provides evidence. NOw I agree they are looking at a narrow set of factors but it does provide an evidentiary based argument that the Danes are happy. You are saying they are not so do you have evidence that counters the argument put forward by the study?

If you visited the link you will see it does. Denmark's GDP is doing well and under standards of the economic freedom index show that companies aren't saying " '**** doing business in Denamrk"
[rquoter]The Danish economy performs remarkably well in regulatory efficiency, and open-market policies sustain flexibility, competitiveness, and large flows of trade and investment. The transparent and efficient regulatory and legal environment encourages robust entrepreneurial activity. Banking regulations are sensible, and lending practices have been relatively prudent. Inflationary pressures are under control. The judicial system provides strong protection for property rights, and anti-corruption measures are firmly institutionalized.[/rquoter]

 

completely disagree

I said the forcing high paternity leave discourages business. You disagree with this? Your stats don't prove otherwise. You would need to see what they would be without said laws.

 

Also beautiful women and good beer.