<The Future is SolarThe Oil DrumDrumBeat: July 28, 2007>

94 comments on Happiness, economic growth, and oil prices

Comments can no longer be added to this story.

Leanan on July 27, 2007 - 9:51am Permalink | Subthread | Comments top

Great googly-moogly. TOD server is choking today. I don't know what's wrong, but something is.

There was an interesting study I posted a link to awhile back. It was about Mexican immigrants. They come to the U.S., and become significantly wealthier...but much less happy. Apparently, Mexicans tend to be much happier than USans. As Mexicans assimilate into US culture, they become more similar to us. Psychologically was well as economically.

The happiest people in the world are Nigerians. Money really doesn't buy happiness.

Not that I expect that to turn people away from money. Heck, I know something like 3 out of 5 lottery winners end up bankrupt in five years, and many wish they'd never won. Some even give the money back. But I still want a chance to test it for myself! ;-)

FWIW, I also would say I am a pretty happy person. Even though many here consider me a doomer. ;-) I'm a technophile, but I know, from personal experience, that technology is not necessary for happiness. I've lived overseas without electricity or running water. Is it less convenient? Hell, yeah. But it really has nothing to do with happiness. You get used to it very quickly.

0
Comments can no longer be added to this story.
cuchulainn on July 27, 2007 - 11:17am Permalink | Subthread | Parent | Comments top

Leanan,
"The happiest people in the world are Nigerians". What's your source on that? This source

http://www.le.ac.uk/pc/aw57/world/sample.html

shows global happiness levels being ROUGHLY in accordance with GDP (ie monotonic wrt GDP on a country-by-country basis). As far as I know the 'positive psychology' interpretation of this goes 'Below $15,000 money buys happiness, above $15,000 people get confused and start judging themselves relative to their neighbours, hence no measurable increase in (mean) happiness once (mean) income gets near (+/-) $15,000.

This fits with what you say about Mexicans - Mexicans in Mexico = happy, because they earn about $10,000 (GDP/capita basis). Mexicans who move to the US = happier because they earn more (clearly, otherwise they wouldn't move). Mexicans who stay in the US longterm = unhappy since they start judging themselves relative to the US average of $44,000.

I highly recommend the books 'Authentic Happiness' by Martin Seligman, 'The Happiness Hypothesis' by Jonathan Haidt and 'Stumbling on Happiness' by Daniel Gilbert. If you're interested in this stuff then you'll really enjoy each of them.

Cuchulainn

0
Comments can no longer be added to this story.
Leanan on July 27, 2007 - 1:54pm Permalink | Subthread | Parent | Comments top

Nigeria tops happiness survey

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.

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.

0
Comments can no longer be added to this story.
Dryki on July 27, 2007 - 9:11pm Permalink | Subthread | Parent | Comments top

I'm a little suspicious that the master might be telling us how happy the house slaves are. Maybe, maybe not. I'd rather a Nigerian source.

cfm in Gray, ME

0
Comments can no longer be added to this story.
Seadragon on July 27, 2007 - 5:31pm Permalink | Subthread | Parent | Comments top

I'd also recommend Luxury Fever: Money and Happiness in an Era of Excess, Robert Frank. Excellent in depth discussion of these issues.
http://www.amazon.com/Luxury-Fever-Robert-H-Frank/dp/0691070113/ref=pd_b...

0
Comments can no longer be added to this story.
radlafari on July 27, 2007 - 12:43pm Permalink | Subthread | Parent | Comments top

The happiest people in the world are Nigerians

A while ago I read that the scandinavians, especially the danish people, are the, hm, happiest? No I think they called it 'most contented' (I hope that's the difference between German 'gluecklich' and 'zufrieden').

Contentedness as per that report was rooting in high social standards, and, interesting enough, absence of religious pressure.

0
Comments can no longer be added to this story.
Leanan on July 27, 2007 - 1:55pm Permalink | Subthread | Parent | Comments top

I remember that study. I believe it was contentment, not happiness. Basically, it was because Danish people have low expectations. So they're always pleasantly surprised.

It pays to be a doomer! ;-)

0
Comments can no longer be added to this story.
smekhovo on July 27, 2007 - 3:25pm Permalink | Subthread | Parent | Comments top

Danes are known for their brutal honesty. So they don't suffer from the continual struggle to make nice.

0
Comments can no longer be added to this story.
HereinHalifax on July 28, 2007 - 8:26am Permalink | Subthread | Parent | Comments top

Hi radlafari,

... 'gluecklich' and 'zufrieden'...

I think the word you're looking for is schadenfreude. ;-)

Happiness is a collie.

http://www.collierescuenetwork.com/

Casey, Kyle, Kingston and Kelsey extend their paws.

Cheers,
Paul

0
Comments can no longer be added to this story.
bboeri on July 27, 2007 - 5:50pm Permalink | Subthread | Parent | Comments top

Interesting observation Stuart, and puts "happiness" in its rightful place.

However, I remember being quite happy during the 70s oil embargo, and happy-but-becoming-anxious during the early 80s embargo (and concurrent hyperinflation). I think a different analysis that might be equally useful would have to do with anxiety or crime when economic times get difficult.

Remember the hijacked meat trucks during the embargo when meat prices soared? How about the warning not to use locking gasoline caps on your car since it would tempt people to break them open -- in spite-- so they could steal YOUR gasoline. Maybe the locking gas cap rumor was because I was living in Lowell MA during the first oil embargo and Lowell was at times a rough place. However, that environment might be a good paradigm of what might happen if the economy really goes bump as peak oil settles in.

Comments?

Green Hornet
http://livingwithoutoil.blogspot.com
http://my-words.org/Beyond2010-top/top.htm

0
Comments can no longer be added to this story.
greenish on July 27, 2007 - 7:10pm Permalink | Subthread | Parent | Comments top

I recommend the book "The Paradox of Choice" by Schwartz; it's a quick read and highlights some non-intuitive realities about the "Tyranny of Choice".

Basically, being overwhelmed with choices messes people up. Is there anywhere Tainter isn't hiding?

0
Comments can no longer be added to this story.
Leanan on July 28, 2007 - 2:00pm Permalink | Subthread | Parent | Comments top

I second this recommendation.

0
Comments can no longer be added to this story.
Earthworm Jim on July 27, 2007 - 8:32pm Permalink | Subthread | Parent | Comments top

I think there is also a social element to be considered when asking people how happy they are. Maybe in Nigerian culture it's considered normal to say you are happy, but in some western countries maybe it's considered better form to downplay how happy you are for some reason.

It's a tough thing to measure accuately.

0
Comments can no longer be added to this story.