There is more to happiness than raw economic growth. What happens when you measure countries by employment, health care, and life satisfaction? The United States and Europe run in opposite directions.
The pursuit of happiness is one of America's promises to its citizens, enshrined in the Declaration of Independence. But today, Americans are a profoundly unhappy people. Their sour mood in the wake of the Great Recession reflects growing disillusionment with the exceptionalism of the American Dream and a widespread sense that the United States is in decline. The perceived fall from greatness, and who is to blame for it, are already shaping up as major themes for the 2012 campaign.
"Many in Washington--including the president--are really arguing over how best to manage the decline of our nation," Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wis., the House Budget Committee chairman, charged in an early salvo last month.
10 AUSTRIAEmployment Rate: 9th
9 ISRAELEmployment Rate: 25th
Self-Reported Health: 10th
Employees Working Long Hours:29th
Educational Attainment: 12th
Life Expectancy: 8th 14th
Self-Reported Health: 21st
Employees Working Long Hours: 9th
Disposable Income: 15th
Educational Attainment: 13th
Life Expectancy: 18th
8 FINLANDEmployment Score:
7 SWITZERLANDEmployment Score: 10th
Self-Reported Health: 6th
Employees Working Long Hours:17th best
Disposable Income: 5th
Educational Attainment: 8th
Life Expectancy: 2nd 6th
Self-Reported Health: 11th
Employees Working Long Hours: 2nd
Disposable Income: 10th
Educational Attainment: 10th
Life Expectancy:7th 4th
Self-Reported Health:7th
Employees Working Long Hours: 1st
Disposable Income: 12th
Educational Attainment: 19th
Life Expectancy: 16th
6 SWEDENEmployment Score:
5 THE NETHERLANDSEmployment Score:
4 AUSTRALIAEmployment Score:8th
Self-Reported Health:4th
Employees Working Long Hours: 28th
Disposable Income: 8th
Educational Attainment: 22nd
Life Expectancy:3rd
3 : NORWAYEmployment Score:3rd
Self-Reported Health: 9th
Employees Working Long Hours:5th
Disposable Income:2nd
Educational Attainment: 15th
Life Expectancy: 12th 10th
Self-Reported Health: 2nd
Employees Working Long Hours: 10th
Disposable Income: 8th
Educational Attainment: 6th
Life Expectancy:10th DENMARKEmployment Score: 5th
Self-Reported Health:15th
Employees Working Long Hours: 3rd
Disposable Income:18th
Educational Attainment: 18th
Life Expectancy: 25th
2 : CANADAEmployment Score:
1 :