31 Jul Putting a price on happiness!
Can you really put a dollar value on happiness? I’m not so sure! But this research, the launch of which I was involved in last week, tries to do just that and there’s no doubt it makes for some interesting reading…
by ANNETTE SAMPSON
It’s official: money doesn’t buy you happiness. But financial security certainly seems to play a role in whether you’re a glass half full or glass half empty type of person.
The latest AMP.NATSEM Report, The Pursuit of Happiness, found Australians are a comparatively happy bunch. In fact, we’re among the most satisfied people in the world. Almost 90 per cent of us say we’re satisfied with our lives, despite having to work harder to juggle family, job and financial pressures. That puts us in equal third place internationally, along with the US and Sweden. However, if you’re considering a move, you might want to look at Ireland, Norway or Denmark (which tied in having the happiest populations) or Finland or Canada (equal second).
Interestingly, and this is one the growth-at-all-costs proponents in the business lobby may like to think about, economic growth doesn’t automatically equate to happiness. Countries with a higher gross domestic product do tend to have higher levels of happiness, but Australia – which ranks only 15th of the OECD countries in terms of GDP, punches well above its weight when it comes to life satisfaction. We’re much happier than our British cousins and just as happy as the Americans – though their wealth, admittedly, is not what it used to be.
Not surprisingly, the report found factors like friends and family, health and work are big contributors to happiness…
…to read the full article on happiness and money, check out the Sydney Morning Herald – HERE