Why Are the North European Countries Happiest?

Table of Contents (Jump to)

1. Introduction

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2. Denmark as the most happy country

3. Norway amongst the most happy countries

4. Netherland

5. Sweden

6. Conclusion

7. References

1. Introduction

World Happiness Report of 2013 disclosed that the nations in northern Europe are amongst the happiest countries in the world (Helliwell, Layard, Sachs, & Council, 2013). This information comes at an instance when more citizens desire for their administration to focus additional on the community’shappinessinstead of on financial expansion. Amongst the best four happiest nations were Denmark, Norway, Netherlands, and Sweden correspondingly (Helliwell et al., 2013). In order to get better the happiness point of a nation, the report advocates that government allocate enough funds for health, particularly mental sicknesses (Okulicz-Kozaryn, 2012). The description also pressured the significance of balancingsocietydevelopment and economic growth (Veenhoven, 2012).

It appears from investigation, that the explanation to the best five nations contentment has less to perform with acquiring wealth and acquisitiveness and more to accomplish with adore and reliability of someone associated closely, common and societal support and high-quality healthiness practices as a method to happiness and development (Veenhoven, 2012). Where the north-European countries, beside with several other western countries came out on a superior ranking, by difference, it was the African countries, which came out at the last (Heukamp & Arino, 2011). The information that comes in the UN (United Nations) General Assembly was the 2nd World Happiness Report, calculating not only happiness itself, but additional focus on evaluating its contributing reasons (Helliwell et al., 2013). It was generated by principal experts in their areas in finances, survey examination, statistics and psychology, amongst additional and gauges how a variety of extents of happiness can be used to high-quality consequence in the development of other countries (Heukamp & Arino, 2011). In this report author has cited the reasons behind happiness of these north European nations.

Report by OECD (Organization for Economic Cooperation & Development’s) healthier Life Index on North European citizens indicated that the regular household’s revenue is something like US $30,060 per year, which is superior to the Organization for Economic Cooperation & Development’s average of US $23,047 per annum (Okulicz-Kozaryn, 2012). Nearly eighty percent of the people aged between fifteen and sixty four are in paid pay, once more higher than the OECD usual of 66 % (Okulicz-Kozaryn, 2012). North European countries are judged as best performing nations where it’s teaching arrangement is concerned, with in addition an average life expectancy more than eighty three years. This is three years superior to the OECD average of eighty years (Rodriguez-Pose & von Berlepsch, 2013). The countries water quality executes superior than average and ninety five percent of the citizens are also reported to be pleased with its delivery (Veenhoven, 2012).

North European inhabitants have more optimistic experiences in a regular day, with a feeling of rest, satisfaction in achievement and gratification, according to the Organization for Economic Cooperation & Development’s report, as opposed to pessimistic experiences of ache, fret, grief and dullness (Pittau et al., 2010). It has also been quarreled that there is an influential relationship among direct democracy and contentment in North European Countries (Seghieri et al., 2006). Direct democratic system guides to: “superior receptiveness to voter fondness’s; subordinate levels of administration expenditure, apart from in schooling; public services being offered at lesser costs and superior per capita earnings.”

On the opposite side, it might also be the feeling of national delight that makes the nations as a entire a satisfied nations, from its proficiently running community transportation to the tax free banking system (Okulicz-Kozaryn, 2012). They pay funds into the Union and participate in the common marketplace; although they do not have an utter on the manner things are managed (Seghieri et al., 2006). They maintain their individual self-government, which is bound to make any country pleased. North European countries are considered as the cleanest nations and information have stated that they are the best managed and safest nations in the world (Rodriguez-Pose & von Berlepsch, 2013).

2. Denmark as the most happy country

Denmark was graded highest in the survey and has stayed on pinnacle since 1973, as soon as the European nations Commission put up a “Eurobarometer,” to begin what matters affect its people (Pittau, Zelli, & Gelman, 2010). What makes people of northern Europe so happy is the reason that they are so credulous of persons they do not even know. Trust makes a human being content and that Danish citizens have a vested concern in making transforms to circumstances that they do not adore (Stavrova, Fetchenhauer, & Schlosser, 2012). The best thing about Danish culture is that it doesn’t evaluate other people’s lives (Sortheix & Lonnqvist, 2014). It permits them to prefer the category of life they desire to live, which is not for all time feasible in other nations, so this aids to the overall happiness of citizens living there (Veenhoven, 2012).

Money is not a huge concern as societal life is to people of Denmark (Okulicz-Kozaryn, 2012). Using the United States and United Kingdom as examples, Danish citizens do not be inclined to make enormous spends on big houses; rather, they would desire to expend their wealth on socializing with companions (Seghieri, Desantis, & Tanturri, 2006). With no bowing to societal pressure, ethical opinion and with community support from surrounding a person with close friends, it is no doubt that Denmark citizens have come out as best for the past thirty years (Sortheix & Lonnqvist, 2014). It appears also that the administration is actually listening to its citizens, not the further way around (Okulicz-Kozaryn, 2012).

3. Norway amongst the most happy countries

One of the chief factors that appear to make people of Norway so happy is its democratic society. The welfare shape of Norway was built up as such ever since the 2nd World War. After many years of Germany occupation, the nation was enthusiastic to avoid any more separations; hence the egalitarian issue came into picture (Sortheix & Lonnqvist, 2014). Not many Norwegians are supposed to be enormously rich. In actual fact, it is reportedly scowled upon. But even less are living in frantic poverty (Rodriguez-Pose & von Berlepsch, 2013).

With reference to pay, there seems to be little dissimilarity in the quantity of money earning from a train driver to a Physician. Each of them is reported to receive around the equal pay per month (Okulicz-Kozaryn, 2012). Norway is the center of salmon agriculture, consequently salmon is eaten is abundant quantities and bought very inexpensively as a consequence (Seghieri et al., 2006). On the new side of the coin, retirement fund schemes, private schooling, private health insurance cover and are objects that Norway people do not have to split out for (Sortheix & Lonnqvist, 2014). There are limited private schools as community schools have an outstanding status, while for the majority, state pensions will be sufficient (Pittau et al., 2010).

The average life expectancy of Norway citizens is also high. The doctor rarely finds anything erroneous with the physical condition of the Norway octogenarians, who appear quite annoyed to find back out on their every day cross-country skiing sprint (Stavrova et al., 2012). Once more, here we observe a major instance of well living – an outstanding diet of fresh salmon, clean fresh air and work out, societal support and do not trying to survive beyond one’s resources, which merely adds to stress and strain, further worsening into deprived health and sadness (Okulicz-Kozaryn, 2012).

4. Netherland

Netherland is a part of north and Western Europe. Happiness in Netherland seems to branch from babyhood. Reports advocate that it comes as pinnacle of the association table for youngster happiness crossways 21 developed nations, according to a chart available by UNICEF. People of Netherlands have constantly been focused on their kids, mainly the young (Okulicz-Kozaryn, 2012). Netherlands is wealthy, in terms of its healthiness, earnings and edification. Its position of happiness comes from the system in which blood relations have a fine rapport with their kids, in addition to the fact that there is zero pressure placed on kids at school (Stavrova et al., 2012). Proportion of young mothers in the employment strength is not very tall in contrast to comparable nations (Sortheix & Lonnqvist, 2014). There is a higher propensity for mothers to nurse the kids or take a vacation from job after kids are born (Rodriguez-Pose & von Berlepsch, 2013).

Kids in the Netherlands are raise in a very protective and caring environment. Family units lean to be and broadminded where parents and kids can discuss about anything at detail. In a lot of cases, mothers have resided at house while the father of kid went out to occupation, giving the youngster more of a common sense of steadiness in himself (Pittau et al., 2010). Additional, due to the relaxed approach in child nurture, subjects that other communities may make out to be a huge deal do not appear per se a big issue to mostly Dutch parents. They are famous for their moderate attitudes to sex, narcotics and alcohol (Seghieri et al., 2006). It is officially permitted to do the majority of these acts after the age of 16 years; there is not anything to incite parents to make it less attractive and therefore little of a huge deal. The status of schooling is also better, making job hopes, which are supposedly abundant, easier to get (Stavrova et al., 2012).

5. Sweden

Sweden is considered as a luxurious nation, as it seems that several northern European nations appear to be, then what is the reason of their happiness? The expenditure of living is lofty, earnings are said to be less and alcohol in fact costs higher than gold ornaments, though they are fond of drink (Okulicz-Kozaryn, 2012). But this is not the similar again for several other neighboring countries? The advantage is that the chief class scheme which appears to be in survival is one huge middle class (Veenhoven, 2012). The regular Swede makes more capital in comparison to North American and with both parents in the family out at job; there is no dearth of funds. Swedes have abhorred of those who show off their wealth and consume to surplus (Stavrova et al., 2012). Where they give high tax money, they also obtain a high-quality healthcare arrangement, free of cost University education and bounty of societal curriculums and employment opportunities (Sortheix & Lonnqvist, 2014).

At the same time as in employment those with kids are permitted to five weeks salaried holiday, where they can spend enough time with their kids out in the location away from the crowded cities (Pittau et al., 2010). They received 1 year of remunerated paternal leave for each kid, which is so priceless to keeping a family unit close. With outstanding healthcare, free schooling and huge work force structures, as well as remunerated leave, it is simple to perceive why citizens feel privileged to live in such a nation (Rodriguez-Pose & von Berlepsch, 2013).

6. Conclusion

In this report author has discussed the various reasons why the North European countries are considered as happiest in the world. In nutshell, the reasons can be summarized as broad minded citizens, proper governance, higher education and excellent health facility. Beside these, organized taxation and very well concern to physical fitness can also be counted as chief reasons of their happiness. The objective of UNO to give these rankings is not simply awarding the happiest nations but to create the same kind of happiness in whole world. It appears that the extra we desire, the further we have to forfeit. Are we on a greasy slant, the disadvantage of which influences not merely our physical fitness, but as well our psychological health? What things can we do to ease the stress we now get ourselves daily? This comes as no shock that as a civilization, the Western countries appears to be inclines more and more to the Eastern world, in terms of several of the holistic remedies it has to proffer, as a method to defy the strains that arrive with live in a consumer-driven society. In the meantime, with the mount of the BRICS nations (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa), the financial system is flourishing and consequently the consumerism and trade. Can all of us ultimately find or go back to the condition of comfort and happiness that the best 5 northern European nations have and still appear to uphold?

7. References

Helliwell, J. F., Layard, R., Sachs, J., & Council, E. C. (2013). World happiness report 2013: Sustainable Development Solutions Network.

Heukamp, F. H., & Arino, M. A. (2011). Does country matter for subjective well-being? Social indicators research, 100(1), 155-170.

Okulicz-Kozaryn, A. (2012). Income and Well-being Across European Provinces. Social indicators research, 106(2), 371-392.

Pittau, M. G., Zelli, R., & Gelman, A. (2010). Economic disparities and life satisfaction in European regions. Social indicators research, 96(2), 339-361.

Rodriguez-Pose, A., & von Berlepsch, V. (2013). Social Capital and Individual Happiness in Europe. Journal of Happiness Studies, 1-30.

Seghieri, C., Desantis, G., & Tanturri, M. L. (2006). The richer, the happier? An empirical investigation in selected European countries. Social indicators research, 79(3), 455-476.

Sortheix, F. M., & Lonnqvist, J.-E. (2014). Personal Value Priorities and Life Satisfaction in Europe The Moderating Role of Socioeconomic Development. Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology, 45(2), 282-299.

Stavrova, O., Fetchenhauer, D., & Schlosser, T. (2012). Cohabitation, Gender, and Happiness A Cross-Cultural Study in Thirty Countries. Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology, 43(7), 1063-1081.

Veenhoven, R. (2012). Cross-national differences in happiness: Cultural measurement bias or effect of culture? International Journal of Wellbeing, 2(4).

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