Ruut Veenhoven
in: Bruni, L. & Porta (Eds.) 'Economics and happiness: Framing the analysis', Oxford
University Press, ISBN 0-19-928628-0, pp.243-266
Also published in 2004 in Italian as Felici
nelle avversista in: Bruni, L. & Becattini, G. (Eds.) 'Felicita ed economica. Quando il benessere e ben
vivere' Edizioni Angelo Guerini e Associati, Milano, Italia, ISBN 88-8335-482-6
ABSTRACT
Happiness is often seen as the fruit of an easy
life, but empirical studies show that happiness can go together with considerable
hardship. Average happiness is high in current western nations, in spite of chronic
problems such as criminality, time-pressure and social inequality. Likewise, the happiness
of the average citizen is not affected by calamities such as the 11 September terrorist
attack on New York. At the individual level there are also examples of happiness in
hardship: the happiness of poor and handicapped people is only slightly below average.These paradoxical findings can be explained in three
ways: one explanation is that they do not adequately reflect reality, because of
measurement bias or false consciousness. A second explanation holds that subjective
happiness is insensitive to objective conditions. A
third explanation is that we can live with some problems and even flourish when confronted
with challenge. These three explanations are considered in the light of the available
evidence. It is concluded that the last one fits best. Happiness requires livable
conditions, but not Paradise.