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Money Does Not Buy Happiness
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| occrider |
Nigeria tops happiness survey
The survey confirms money does not buy happiness
A new study of more than 65 countries published in the UK's New Scientist magazine suggests that the happiest people in the world live in Nigeria - and the least happy, in Romania.
People in Latin America, Western Europe and North America are happier than their counterparts in Eastern Europe and Russia.
HAPPINESS AROUND THE WORLD
The happiest
Nigeria
Mexico
Venezuela
El Salvador
Puerto Rico
The least happy
Russia
Armenia
Romania
Source: New Scientist
Nigeria has the highest percentage of happy people followed by Mexico, Venezuela, El Salvador and Puerto Rico, while Russia, Armenia and Romania have the fewest.
But factors that make people happy may vary from one country to the next with personal success and self-expression being seen as the most important in the US, while in Japan, fulfilling the expectations of family and society is valued more highly.
The survey appears to confirm the old adage that money cannot buy happiness.
PATH TO HAPPINESS
Genetic propensity to happiness
Marriage
Make friends and value them
Desire less
Do someone a good turn
Have faith (religious or not)
Stop comparing your looks with others
Earn more money
Grow old gracefully
Don't worry if you're not a genius
The researchers for World Values Survey described the desire for material goods as "a happiness suppressant".
They say happiness levels have remained virtually the same in industrialised countries since World War II, although incomes have risen considerably.
The exception is Denmark, where people have become more satisfied with life over the last three decades.
The study was carried out in 1999-2001 and published for the first time by New Scientist this week.
Consumerism
Researchers believe the unchanging trend is linked to consumerism.
"New Zealand ranked 15 for overall satisfaction, the US 16th, Australia 20th and Britain 24th - although Australia beats the other three for day-to-day happiness," New Scientist says.
The survey is a worldwide investigation of socio-cultural and political change conducted about every four years by an international network of social scientists.
It includes questions about how happy people are and how satisfied they are with their lives.
Although such surveys are not new, they are being increasingly taken into account by policy makers, the magazine says.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/3157570.stm |
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| BTG |
I myself am a very happy person.
regardless of my negative income. |
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| Mr.Mystery |
| Money doesn't buy happiness but I'd rather cry in a Porsche than in a bus. |
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| DigiNut |
| quote: | Originally posted by Mr.Mystery
Money doesn't buy happiness but I'd rather cry in a Porsche than in a bus. |
Amen. |
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| Misty Kitty |
money may not buy happiness but i certainly buy alot of other stuff.
I get by and i have a laugh doing it, but i would be able to do so much more with my time if money wasn't a factor in activities |
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| occrider |
| quote: | Originally posted by Mr.Mystery
Money doesn't buy happiness but I'd rather cry in a Porsche than in a bus. |
No because then you would be even MORE unhappy because you don't have a nice house to go with your porsche :p |
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| DigiNut |
I think you have to take these "studies" with a grain of salt, because you're not just comparing individual citizens, you're comparing entire societies.
Money may not be very important in a place like Nigeria, where the society isn't very money-driven. But countries like Canada and the USA are very materialistic, and it's just impossible to have much fun when you can't afford the things you want. Money may not buy happiness here, but I think it definitely is at least one requirement for it. |
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| DJ-Fuq |
| Money can buy happiness imo. If ur not in debt u have less stress in life for example. And money can buy lots of things that will make u happy, at least in the short term. |
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| Omegasox |
No matter how much money you have you'll always want more. This breeds desire which is the first stepping stone for disappointment.
And sure "fun" stuff usually requires money, but true happiness is within, not drawn from fun activities. |
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| whiskers |
money does or doesn't buy happiness, depending on the type of person you are.
this survey is . i wouldn't trust it at all. i've seen too many russian immigrants who say that even they make a good amount of money here in the US, they'd be happier back home. a pileup, but your OWN, home, pileup. although word comes to action, what would they really choose, no one knows. |
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| Cuervo79 |
| Well no money probs would certainly make me happier |
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| Mike_B |
| interesting, but i must admit that being born in a uppermiddle class familly, i can do no less but end up being an upper middle class citizen. which is why i have so much schooling left. But im still happy. Great girlfriend, and awsome friends help with that. I think the environment in which your raized has alot to do with it. i don't mean money wise. But being born in a happy familly environment vs. a angry, stressed, problem familly will greatly influence a childs perseption of the world. |
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