You can be poor and happy, but you can't be rich and unhappy
The relationship between wealth and happiness turned out to be ambiguous
Alexander Markov, "Elements"
An analysis of the results of sociological surveys conducted in many countries of the world in different years has shown that the relationship between the wealth of a country and how happy its residents consider themselves to be has a sharply asymmetric character. If a country is rich, its inhabitants are almost certainly happy; if the inhabitants are unhappy, the country is almost certainly poor. However, there are many countries whose inhabitants consider themselves very happy despite poverty.
The recently published book by Russian sociologists Andrey Korotaev and Daria Khalturina "Modern trends in World Development" summarizes the results of statistical analysis of various data sets reflecting the dynamics of the main socially significant indicators in the modern world. The book analyzes demographic dynamics in different countries, processes of urbanization and economic development, problems of poverty, malnutrition, inequality, corruption, religiosity, etc. Unlike many other monographs devoted to such topical issues, in this book the authors managed to refrain from putting forward controversial "great theories", and even more so from trying to back up their ideas with carefully selected facts, keeping silent about the data that do not agree with these ideas. The main content of the book is dry figures and graphs based on the most reliable sources, which form, apparently, a completely objective picture of the current state of humanity and short–term trends in its development.
Of particular interest is Chapter 10, devoted to the statistical analysis of the distribution of subjective feelings of happiness among residents of different countries of the world. The research is based on sociological surveys conducted within the framework of several international scientific projects in many countries over the past 10 years.
According to the overwhelming majority of respondents, the main factors of happiness are the quality of social connections (the presence of a loved one, friends, close relationships with relatives) and interesting, exciting activities. As it turned out during special tests, representatives of almost all cultures understand the concept of "happiness" in approximately the same way (there are small doubts only about some African peoples living south of the Sahara). Therefore, all subjects were asked the same simple question: "Are you happy?", with four possible answers: "Very happy" (4 points), "Pretty happy" or "Happy rather than unhappy" (3 points), "Not very happy" (2 points), "Completely unhappy" (1 point).
The average score varies from about 2.2 in the "most unhappy" countries to 3.6 in the "happiest". According to data from 1998-2000, when 70 countries were surveyed, developed countries such as Canada, Australia, New Zealand, the USA and a number of Western European states dominated the twenty happiest. In addition, some poor countries also entered the top twenty: Nigeria, Venezuela, El Salvador, Philippines, Colombia. The twenty most unhappy countries consisted almost entirely of the former republics of the USSR and the countries of the collapsed socialist bloc. Russia with an average score of 2.41 was in third place from the end (only Moldova and Albania were more unhappy).
Over the decade since then (according to 2007-2008 data, 79 countries have been surveyed) the situation at the top of the list remained about the same: here again we see a strange mixture of the most developed countries with some poor countries in Latin America, Africa and East Asia. In the twenty most unhappy, on the contrary, there have been dramatic changes. Former socialist countries now make up only half of this list. They were "mixed up" mainly by Latin American countries (in descending order of happiness: Ecuador, Argentina, Nicaragua, Peru, Bolivia), as well as Hong Kong, South Korea, Iraq and Zimbabwe. Some countries of the former socialist camp began to feel much happier than 10 years ago, and even surpassed some Western European countries in this indicator: Georgia – 3.15 points, Slovenia – 3.14, Russia – 3.04, Kyrgyzstan – 3.04; more unhappy Western European countries include Germany (3.03), Italy (2.98) and Greece (2.97).
The main part of the study is the analysis of the ratio between the level of happiness of the population and the wealth of the country, which was estimated by the level of GDP per capita. As expected, there is a significant positive correlation between these indicators (the richer the country, the happier people are on average), but this correlation has a sharply asymmetric character. A high level of GDP is a good predictor that the population feels happy: among the richest countries (GDP > $20,000 per capita), in the vast majority (78.9% of countries), less than 10% are unhappy (that is, those who chose the third or fourth answer option). A low level of GDP is also a good predictor of a high proportion of accidents: among countries with a GDP of < $20,000, only 12.7% of countries have an accident rate below 10%.
On the other hand, if we try to predict the level of wealth of a country by the level of happiness, then this will work only for unhappy countries: if a country is unhappy, it is almost certainly poor (92.3% of countries with a share of unhappy people above 10% have a GDP below $20,000). If the population of a country feels happy, then this says little about its wealth, since about a third of countries with an unhappy share below 10% have a low level of GDP (less than $20,000 per capita). In simple words, this means that a country can be "poor and happy", but it cannot be "rich and unhappy".
The phenomenon of "poor but happy" countries (these include, in addition to the aforementioned Nigeria, Venezuela, El Salvador, the Philippines and Colombia, as well as Tanzania, Vietnam, Indonesia, Egypt and Mexico) requires further study. In some cases (especially for sub-Saharan African countries), an error in the source data may be suspected. This is evidenced by the results of their own surveys conducted by Korotaev and Khalturina during expeditions to Tanzania. The researchers did not find such a high level of happiness there, as indicated in international databases.
Perhaps this phenomenon is partly explained by the correlation between happiness and the level of religiosity. This correlation is generally positive, although weak. Of the above-mentioned "poor but happy" countries, all, except Vietnam, Venezuela and Colombia, are simultaneously among the twenty most religious countries in the world (see chapter 9 of the monograph under discussion). However, there are also reverse examples, such as Vietnam, whose population considers itself very happy despite the extremely low level of religiosity, or Zimbabwe, Iran, Pakistan – very religious and at the same time very unhappy countries. Within individual countries, including Russia, there is also a weak positive correlation between religiosity and subjective assessment of personal happiness, but this correlation completely disappears in countries with very low levels of religiosity, such as Denmark, which is also one of the happiest countries in the world.
It is curious that the rich and poor countries that are among the "happiest", apparently, are characterized by a slightly different attitude to their own happiness. This is not visible by the average score, but it is visible by the distribution of responses in four categories. In rich and happy countries, the absolute majority of respondents always choose the second answer: "happy rather than unhappy." The authors propose to call this "model of happiness" "moderate". In poor and happy countries, on the contrary, the absolute majority of people choose the first option: "very happy." The authors call this model of happiness "ecstatic".
This diagram shows the asymmetric nature of the relationship between the wealth of a country and the happiness of its population. All rich countries are happy, but among poor countries there is a huge variation in the level of subjective assessment of their own happiness. On the vertical axis – the percentage of people who consider themselves unhappy rather than happy. On the horizontal axis – the production of GDP per capita in purchasing power parity. A drawing from the monograph under discussion.
A very important factor influencing the subjective assessment of personal happiness, apparently, is the dynamics of changes in the economic situation in the country. When the situation worsens, people can feel very unhappy, even if the country as a whole remains far from the poorest. This effect was clearly manifested in the countries of the former socialist camp in the late 1990s, when their citizens felt much more unhappy than the population of truly poor countries living on the verge of starvation. On the contrary, the tendency to improve the economic situation leads to a sharp increase in the "level of happiness", even if the country remains relatively poor. A typical example is the dynamics of Russians' self–perception over the past 10 years.
The authors believe that the results they have obtained should be taken into account by politicians when planning various reforms. It is necessary to refrain from "shock" scenarios, because any temporary decrease in the material well-being of citizens can lead to a disproportionately greater deterioration of their mental state, which is fraught with negative social consequences.
Source: A.V. Korotaev, D. A. Khalturina. 2009. Modern trends in world development (Chapter 10. You can be poor and happy, but you can't be rich and unhappy?).
BY THE WAY :)
Happiness in Signs, Figures and Facts (Natalie's magazine, No. 12-2008)
Happiness is an ever–elusive property of human existence. Someone is looking for it in love, someone in a career, and someone is convinced that it directly depends on the number of banknotes. From time immemorial, man has tried to learn its secrets, followed signs, divined, participated in all kinds of rituals and rituals. Today, scientific institutes and laboratories are engaged in the study of the nature of happiness, thousands of articles and books have been written about it. Let's try and join the process of exploring this biggest and most alluring mystery in the world.
A horseshoe for luck – this sign appeared back in the V-VI centuries, when forged iron arcs came to replace bast bast shoes for horses. Only rich people could afford such an expensive pleasure in the Middle Ages, so finding a horseshoe was quite reasonably considered lucky. Already in the XIII century, this piece of iron ceased to be a rarity, and the sign has not lost its significance to this day. By the way, even Tsar Nicholas II believed in happy horseshoes. He was extremely lucky to find things, and he set aside a special room for them. However, the sovereign's luck is quite understandable: they say that to please the tsar, the retinue regularly threw him these very horseshoes.
70% of respondents named the love of others and the availability of work as the main factor of happiness. That is, the microenvironment in which a person has to spend most of his life, and not at all a material state, love or health. This result was shown by a large-scale survey conducted by a Canadian magazine engaged in happiness research. Imagine, there is one!
The majority of folk signs are dedicated to wealth. If you want to save and multiply money, then remember a few true prohibitions: never put a bag with a purse on the floor, do not hand money over the threshold, it is considered a critical place where everything negative is collected. Do not give alms from hand to hand, do not count coins in a piggy bank and do not borrow on Tuesdays. And to get rich, count money more often. There is a version that the word "poverty" comes from "not counting". Fold the bills in your wallet in ascending order, neatly straightened. Tell the money that you love them and will constantly increase the number of banknotes. Take the bills with your left hand, and give them with your right. Borrow for the new month, and return to the defective one. Help those who load, but avoid helping to unload anything. Do not put money on the table – this leads to losses.
Signs that will help you avoid trouble: don't sit on the table – it leads to poverty. Do not take out the garbage from the house in the evening – to the loss of money. Do not cut your hair yourself – you will cut off luck. Do not throw anything out of the window, otherwise happiness will leave your house. Do not leave knives on the kitchen table overnight – to trouble. Do not wash the floor from the threshold. Do not put a hat and gloves on the table. Such are the folk signs. And how much they will act depends on you and the degree of your faith in them.
The "school of good mood" exists in Hungary. It was discovered by psychologist Istvan Balog. He was prompted to take this step by a sociological survey, which showed that almost 70% of all Hungarians aged 30 to 50 practically do not get out of stress, which is why they too often feel unhappy people.
The UK government is going to introduce happiness lessons. He was motivated to do this by the results of the experimental SEAL program, which showed how much calmer and more confident children have become who have learned to express their thoughts correctly and control anger. Among other things, this program helped to reduce the stress level of students and teachers, made the former more friendly, and the latter more tolerant.
Two positive events need to be experienced by an American in order to return to the usual "level of happiness" after suffering setbacks. Asians only need one little bit of luck.
Men and women are happy in different ways. For the weaker sex, the key to happiness is the opportunity to be close to family, the attention of the chosen one, sunny weather and successful weight loss. But the stronger sex feels really happy during sex, the victories of their favorite sports team and their hobbies.
The body carries a lot of signs of happiness. Special importance is attached to moles. The most successful are those located on the forehead – this leads to a happy marriage and numerous offspring, moles in the eye area – to financial victories, on the nose – solid luck and success, even where it seems completely unreal. Well-being is promised by moles on the chest, hip or knee. And since ancient times, a shiny forehead has been considered a happy sign, which testifies to the good health and luck of its owner. The Chinese call the triangle of hair on the forehead a "peach bud" or "peak of beauty". A man with such a sign can achieve serious success in business. Bald patches on the sides of the forehead and two tops with characteristic curls are also considered a happy omen.
Frequent sex according to the degree of pleasure is adequate for a high salary, scientists say. In other words, love games can compensate for the lack of money. The English economist David Blanchflower, together with his colleagues, conducted an interesting study, as a result of which he stated: the influence of sex on happiness is great and statistically determined. If you make love at least once a week instead of once a month, you will get pleasure equal to fifty thousand dollars of additional income. In addition, it has been established that rich people have sex more often than their less affluent compatriots. Those who have to pay for love regularly suffer from depression. And the optimal number of partners per year for happiness is equal to one.
Red and blue are considered the happiest colors. In the East, for example, brides are dressed in red to attract the favor of heaven. And a month after the birth of the child, parents distribute eggs painted in the same color to relatives. Blue symbolizes peace and tranquility. He emphasizes optimism and reliability.
"13" is not such an unlucky number. In Madrid, lottery players prefer to buy tickets at the office located in the house at number 13 on Alcala Avenue. The best time to buy is December 13 at 13 o'clock. And in order for the ticket to be completely and irrevocably happy, you need to leave the office limping, hold on to the tip of your nose and show your tongue to the first person you meet. And no one will express surprise, on the contrary, the witnesses of such an eccentric act favorably smile at the "lucky one" in response.
Young girls are happier than their boys of the same age, according to research conducted by the Kiev International Institute of Sociology. But with age, men and women change roles.
57% of holders of higher education diplomas consider themselves happy. Among people with incomplete secondary education, there are only 30.6% of them. The largest indicator of respondents who are absolutely satisfied with life (81.8%) was noted in the circle of those who "can buy anything they want." But even among people who do not have enough money even for food, there were 23.5% who consider themselves completely happy. Apparently, the one who first noticed that happiness is not in money is right.
The real happiness, the Japanese have no doubt, is to see the sunrise in a dream on New Year's Eve. But in China, it's enough to stick your head between two rocks in a Stone Forest to find happiness. If, of course, it will be possible to get her back without difficulty. Jewelers of the French house Korloff Paris claim: fantastic happiness can be brought to you by the world's largest Korloff black diamond listed in the Guinness Book of Records. To do this, you just need to get the right to touch it, which Mstislav Rostropovich, Garry Kasparov, Pete Sampras and other world stars have already done at various times.
A black cat is a symbol of misfortune: they say, if she ran across the road, and even "in her bosom", that is, inside the fastener on her clothes, then do not expect good. American whalers called a "black cat" a ship that was returning to port with an incomplete crew. It was believed that a curse was hanging over him. In the state of Indiana, there is still a law requiring all owners of black cats to put a bell around their pets' necks, letting them out for a walk on Friday the thirteenth. But the English sailors, on the contrary, considered the black cat their mascot and recorded it in the ship's staff. He is also revered in the East. It is believed that it is the black cat that is able to cure many diseases with just one touch. And in Scotland, the poor outcast is also treated favorably. They say there: "A black cat on the porch is prosperity in the house." Here are the discrepancies. Therefore, when faced with a "fatal" animal, think only about the good, and remember: you decide whether to come true or not to come true.
In Austria, it is considered a lucky omen to wear shoes of different colors.
Folk signs predict happiness and longevity for children born on the first day or on the new moon.
In Germany, all brides dream of meeting a chimney sweep on the way to church – this is a sure sign of future family well-being.
In order for a child to make a successful career, he needs to be carried up the stairs for the very first time, not down – this is one of the new signs of our time.
Portal "Eternal youth" www.vechnayamolodost.ru
27.01.2009