Report Reveals A Bright Light In Dark Times
The UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) has been publishing the World Happiness Report every year since 2012. Interestingly, the Scandinavian countries have been securing the top positions in the Happiness Index for almost a decade, and the same is reflected in the latest report (published in 2023). Geographically, Denmark, Sweden and Norway (along with Iceland, Finland and Faroe Islands due to their cultural similarity) are called Scandinavian countries. To know what makes these countries happy, one needs to understand how the SDSN prepares the index.
The SDSN – which works under the auspices of the UN Secretary-General to mobilise the world’s universities, think tanks and national laboratories for action on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Paris Agreement on Climate Change; empower societies through free online education and translate scientific evidence and ideas into solutions and accountability – compiles the World Happiness Report on the basis of data collected from various sources and surveys conducted. The Network basically uses two indicators: subjective and objective. The objective indicators are per capita GDP (or per capita income), health or life expectancy, social cooperation, freedom to make choices, generosity and people’s perception of corruption. As far as the subjective index is concerned, the SDSN considers the self-evaluation of the people of a country. Generally, the Network uses data from the Gallup World Poll in this regard. It also prepares a numerical scale (0-10) to rate the satisfaction level of people of different countries. Furthermore, the SDSN analyses information received from various sources, including the World Values Survey, before preparing the World Happiness Index by combining the subjective and objective scores.
It may be noted that subjective indicators depend on objective indicators because the subjective index considers how people rate their own lives. A person becomes highly optimistic about her/his life when s/he lives in a healthy social, political and economic system. Hence, one needs to focus on objective indicators in order to understand why the average happiness of people is higher in a country. Happiness, as it has been observed, depends upon various factors.
On The Welfare Political System
Greek Philosopher Aristotle (BC 384 – BC 322) once said: “Man is a political animal.” He used to believe that the main purpose of Politics was to do Public Welfare. There are various theories about the main purpose of the creation of the State. Proponents of the Social Contract Theory, like Thomas Hobbes (April 5, 1588 – December 4, 1679), John Locke (August 29, 1632 – October 28, 1704) and Jean-Jacques Rousseau (June 28, 1712 – July 2, 1778), claimed that people used to live happily and peacefully in the State of Nature before the creation of the State. However, others claimed that people were barbaric and chaotic in the State of Nature. As people did not have security of life and property at that stage of civilisation, they decided to live together in society in accordance with an agreement that established moral and political rules of behaviour. Some Political Scientists believe that if people live according to a social contract, they can live morally by their own choice and not because a divine being requires it.
Meanwhile, the majority of modern states are welfare states. A modern state has to ensure the Fundamental Rights of its people, irrespective of their religion, class, caste, gender and language. No one can be happy without the Basic Rights, and these Rights are guaranteed by the Constitution. Of course, Constitutions are largely ineffective under Dictatorships, Monarchies and Military Governments. Only a Democratic Government guarantees the Fundamental Rights of people through the Constitution. As the Scandinavian countries have adopted Social Democracy, most of the six criteria mentioned above depend on this type of political system.
A few other issues, too, are important in this context. Whether a person enjoys the freedom to make important decisions regarding her/his life… Whether a person is being discriminated against based on her/his nationality, language or ethnic identity… Whether a person enjoys the Freedom of Expression… These aspects of social life are guaranteed in a Democratic System. Also, there is less corruption in a Democratic System as the Government remains accountable to the people. Moreover, people earn a handsome amount in a modern Democratic country because of the Free Market Economy. Social protection of people is quite strong in Scandinavian countries due to the Social Democratic structure. Hence, people do not have to worry about their Basic Rights, such as free education and health care. Many believe that people are happy there, as Scandinavian countries are homogenous. Although New Zealand, Canada, Australia and some other countries have different ethnic groups, they also occupy the top positions in the World Happiness Index.
Society Based On Equality & Justice
Some of the six criteria of the SDSN are dependent on the social system. If a society does not prioritise equality and justice (or fairness), then people in that society become less happy. In the social system of Scandinavian countries, importance is given to social cooperation, generosity, etc. When a child is born in Nordic countries, the Government takes her/his full responsibility. Each and every citizen enjoys free education and free medical facilities in those countries, where social cooperation also includes charity. A Scandinavian person thinks at the end of the day whether s/he has donated anything to charity. It is because a person gets peace of mind through charity. They also enjoy state-run medical facilities. In case, an educated person loses a job, the state provides her/him with social security. People trust their Government in Scandinavian society. They do not even lock their doors before leaving their residences. Furthermore, women get a year-long maternity leave.
Economy (Income)
Scandinavian countries are essentially Welfare Capitalist States, with a higher emphasis on social welfare and acceptance of Government intervention. They participate in global trade, as they have adopted the Free Market Economy based on demand and supply. At the same time, these countries stress on social welfare programmes, such as universal education, health and other social benefits. As a result, there is less income inequality and socio-economic disparity. Children of uneducated parents can pursue higher education for free in Scandinavian countries, if they want. Due to lesser income inequality, people usually do not get depressed. According to the Gini Coefficient (an index for the degree of inequality in the distribution of income/wealth), Scandinavian countries rank below the global average as far as income inequality is concerned.
Liberal Culture & A Sense Of Freedom
Main hallmarks of Scandinavian culture is trust, equality, generosity, openness and transparency. As culture helps shape human behaviour, a Scandinavian child acquires her/his culture in the socialisation process and becomes a happy citizen. Also, Scandinavians have a sense of freedom. Economic, as well as social, emancipation helps them to feel happy. They also enjoy maximum social security.
In spite of living in adverse weather conditions, Scandinavians have high levels of happiness mainly because of the existing political system, a strong culture of social cooperation, and generosity and economic security.
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