The Politics of Happiness

by Bok, Derek Curtis

• ISBN13: 9780691144894
• ISBN10: 0691144893
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2010-02-21
• Publisher: Princeton Univ Pr

Summary

During the past forty years, thousands of studies have been carried out on the subject of happiness. Some have explored the levels of happiness or dissatisfaction associated with typical daily activities, such as working, seeing friends, or doing household chores. Others have tried to determine the extent to which income, family, religion, and other factors are associated with the satisfaction people feel about their lives. The Gallup organization has begun conducting global surveys of happiness, and several countries are considering publishing periodic reports on the growth or decline of happiness among their people. One nation, tiny Bhutan, has actually made "Gross National Happiness" the central aim of its domestic policy. How might happiness research affect government policy in the United States--and beyond? InThe Politics of Happiness, former Harvard president Derek Bok examines how governments could use happiness research in a variety of policy areas to increase well-being and improve the quality of life for all their citizens.Bok first describes the principal findings of happiness researchers. He considers how reliable the results appear to be and whether they deserve to be taken into account in devising government policies. Recognizing both the strengths and weaknesses of happiness research, Bok looks at the policy implications for economic growth, equality, retirement, unemployment, health care, mental illness, family programs, education, and government quality, among other subjects. Timely and incisive,The Politics of Happinesssheds light on what makes people happy and the vital role government policy could play in fostering satisfaction and well-being.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments	p. vii
Introduction	p. 1
What Investigators Have Discovered	p. 9
The Reliability of Research on Happiness	p. 32
Should Policy-Makers Use Happiness Research?	p. 45
The Question of Growth	p. 63
What to Do about Inequality	p. 79
The Threat of Financial Hardship	p. 99
Relieving Suffering	p. 124
Marriages and Families	p. 139
Education	p. 156
The Quality of Government	p. 179
The Significance of Happiness Research	p. 204
Notes	p. 213
Index	p. 247
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