The Concept of Happiness in Developing Nations
Happiness is a very complex emotion that has various interpretations and causes. In an individual perspective, it is invoked by an extraordinary event or while experiencing feelings such as triumph and pleasure. Some experience it because of an intangible or tangible item given by someone important. Happiness also works with other emotions such as love and faith. However, determining a country’s happiness is a different story considering their differences in political, economic and social aspects. Some argue that developed countries are happier than others but others contradict this sentiment, stressing that developing nations are actually happier than their counterparts. Although there are indeed evidences and studies showing that developed nations are indeed happier than developing countries, developing countries are actually happier than developing countries because of their positive countenance, faith and life satisfaction.
For years, studies have been conducted to determine as to which nations are happier than the other and explain why they are happy. In some studies or surveys, economic prosperity is seen as an indicator for happiness as seen in the 2013 World Happiness Report of the United Nations (2013) because it allows nations to get a better quality of life. The survey announced that Denmark is the happiest nation in the world after checking 150 countries through their real GDP per capita, life expectancy, support levels, freedom or liberties, presence of corruption and generosity. Following Denmark are other European nations with fairly developed economies such as Norway, Switzerland, the Netherlands, and Sweden. The rest of the report indicated that a majority of the 150 nations included in the survey recorded a fairly high rate of happiness of over 5.0 (10 being the highest number). However, it is interesting to note that nations with recorded increases in happiness come from developing regions – like Latin America and the Sub-Saharan African territories – and those with weaker happiness ratings come from developed nations .
According to Crampton and Jeram (2015) and Ahuvia (2002), having a stable economy produces happiness for the people not just because it will give them easier access to material possessions, but they also get the chance to live a better life. Economist Diane Coyle argued economic growth permits people to restructure their time to include leisure time with the family and make work efficient. People now have the capacity to also find better jobs with a more stable and flourishing economy, further stretching their capacity to reach out to other goods and services . Records of those with higher happiness rates and economic growth also stressed that developed countries experience greater well-being or quality of life than those from developing nations. GDP differences also indicated that those with higher GDP had reported positive cross-country differences and improved well-being for many classes . Alter (2014) also cited that some experts – like psychologists Shigehiro Oishi and Ed Diener – noted that while wealth does have something to do with happiness, it also ensures that life’s meaningfulness is drained and improve positive attitudes for developed nations . In terms of developing nations, they can experience further happiness through improved GDP growth. According to Clark and Senik (2011), Como (2011) and Kahneman and Deaton (2010), greater income would bolster more freedom of choice and increase a person’s chance for a greater living standard. If a person works an extra hour a day, he or she is likely to be given a shadow wage that can help them do what they want. Many developing nations would bolster in happiness according to studies if economic stability was present because it proves that their nations are smoothly adjusting to a democratic government that would allow them many freedoms. Women, who were originally unable to get work, would now be able to go in the labor force and try earning money. With these women in the labor force, the country and its government could now be able to afford public services for all its constituents and improve their way of life and eventually, their happiness. Many studies and surveys have been done in the past and supported that income improvements in developing nations can trigger a confidence boost and happiness . Life satisfaction is also related with emotional balance and economic stability. Considering these factors, governments should consider improving their economic policies to bolster happiness rate for the public .
However, there are experts who stressed that economic prosperity and status should not be seen as the reason for a nation’s happiness. According to Jha (2010), studies such as the one written by Richard Easterlin – creator of the Easterlin Paradox – indicated that economic prosperity can only give short-term happiness and not long-term happiness. Stevenson and Wolfers (2008) stated that Easterlin based his hypothesis on the question “whether richer countries are happier countries”. Although there is indeed a relation between happiness and income, he said it was ambiguous in nature and not a sure indicator that a nation is becoming happier . In the revised version of the study, Easterlin and his team reviewed 37 countries from various regions and economic background and compared it with the original study. His team found out that happiness does not increase when the countries’ income increases overtime. It may be true that happiness and income are connected at some level, their effects to one another can only last for 10 years. Easterlin also stated in the study that:
“With incomes rising so rapidly in [certain countries, it seems extraordinary that no surveys register the marked improvements in subjective well-being that no mainstream economists and policy makers worldwide expect to find .”
In the revision of his study, Easterlin used China, Chile and South Korea as examples to show that per capita income increase does not increase happiness. In these three nations, there has been recorded increase in per capita income for the past 20 years. However, China and Chile both reported a decrease in overall happiness despite their economic growth with South Korea reporting a steady happiness decline from 1990 to 2005. Other experts also supported Easterlin’s premise and indicated that happiness may not just be dependent on economic prosperity. Sociologist David Bartram from the University of Leicester, for example, had commented that if Prime Minister David Cameron is serious in aiding public happiness, he would need to reconsider his economic policies. Pushing for these stricter policies may put people out of their jobs and make them miserable in the process . Using the GDP/ economic status as an indicator should not be practiced because it does not clearly stress the general well-being of the citizens. According to the report of Sahadi (2014), while economic development does present high income increases, areas like North Dakota (which economy has grown due to the oil boom) recorded that many people were unsatisfied of their life due to the restrictions posed by high prices, traffic, crimes and even shortages. In comparison, Bhutan used a gross national happiness index to determine how social progress can be measured and improved .
Considering the contradictions presented by using a nation’s economic performance to determine and explain the nation’s happiness, other experts and surveys stated that if other factors were to be considered, developing countries are actually happier than developed nations. Standish and Witters (2014) reported that the first release of the Gallup-Healthways Global Well-Being Index in 2013 revealed that the Americas – mostly the Latin American nations – are thriving and record higher well-being. The Global Well-Being Index had taken into consideration Gallup’s previous surveys and collected data from 135 countries, asking respondents as to what makes them “thriving”, “struggling” or “suffering”. The result revealing that Latin American nations recorded “thriving results” indicated that they see their lives highly and recorded a higher happiness rate than others. The result also indicated that these people from these thriving nations are healthier and more resilient. They are also happier than others .
With the result of the Gallup-Healthways index, it is visible that developing countries are actually happier than developed nations because of three critical reasons: positive emotions, faith and life satisfaction. According to the study done by Pressman, Gallagher and Lopez (2013), emotions is synonymous to aspects such as health and happiness. In the study, countries with lower GDP rates like Malawi recorded higher instances of positive emotion than those from the developed nations like the United States. As a result of these higher positive emotions, these nations develop stronger resistance to pain and sadness . Furthermore, Alpert (2012) reported that those with upbeat disposition – like Latin American countries and the Philippines – indicated that they were happy despite the situations occurring in their countries. Optimism and happiness also grows within these nations as it is becoming clear to them that their economies are now going toe on toe with developed nations and there is now a smaller gap between the rich and the poor. Despite the fact they are developing nations, their optimism helps them strive hard to extend their happiness . Gallup, as reported by Clifton (2014) also released another survey to show that Positive Experience Index that many people around the globe are happy and smiling a lot despite the disasters affecting their regions. Latin American countries have led the Index with Paraguay recording an 87% Positive Index .
Religion also plays a key role in improving happiness in many developing nations today, especially for the ones who have been affected by calamities and other debilitating events. According to Crabtree and Pelham (2009), religion serves as an emotional boost and allows developing countries to continue fighting and happiness. In the Gallup Polls done in 143 countries, it was noted that those with incomes of only $2000 or less stressed that their people owe their constant happy and positive countenance to their faith. In comparison, rich countries with an income of $25,000 or higher report that their citizens do not hold much to faith and only 44% remain faithful to their chosen faith. Sociologists often stressed since the 19th century that societies become secular as they modernize and they start to become more rational and prefer concentration on getting education and living standards. In time, these people – who are now well-off – would no longer take into consideration how religion also influences their overall well-being.
However, this theory of secularization had been met in criticism by many researchers that religion plays more in the happiness and positive emotions felt by developing or disadvantaged populations. In 2004, for instance, the study of Ronald Inglehart and Pippa Norris – as stated by Statsna (2013) and Rees (2009)- used the World Values Survey that developing nations are threatened by countless threats that leaves them vulnerable, pushing them to rely on religion to get hope and happiness. Regardless of the arguments with regards to why religion remains a focal point on developing nations’ happiness, Gallup’s 2008 survey indicated that those with high religious devotion shows a more positive and happy emotional health. They were noted to be happier than those with lesser religious devotion and these people with higher religious devotion also becomes stronger and prevents the onset of negative emotions . With regards to richer countries, their connection with religion is very low because of the lack of communities that would fuel religious faith for those who are religious. Without the devout communities supporting the person’s faith, they do not have the chance to bolster their relationships with other people and ensure emotional satisfaction.
These people also become socially insecure because of the lack of shoulder to lean on in times of crisis and disaster. Experts and economists also adds that the more people say religion is stronger to them, their overall life satisfaction and eventually their happiness. Gallup’s results also showed that developing nations record high instances of positive emotions and interactions, especially if they have to consider the benefits of their faith. Many of those belonging to religious groups even say that they were quite happy all day and laughed a lot with their peers. However, the same records are lower in the case of developed nations . Nicholson (2011) reported that a study in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology had also supported Gallup’s results and used the United States as another example that “poorer” communities are happier than “richer communities”. In poorer states, many religious groups are reported and they are very happy than their counterparts .
Finally, another reason why developing nations are happier than their developed counterparts is because of their life satisfaction despite the hardships they face each year. According to the Pew Research Center (2014) and Sarracino (2008), emerging and developing economies are now recording that their citizens are now more satisfied with their lives than those from advanced nations. The reason for this higher satisfaction rate is related to the improvement of many Asian nations in terms of economic competitiveness, enabling their people to become happier with their lives. If the records for the developed nations are to be considered, personal well-being of their citizens only changed a little despite the increase in income. While the survey had also cited that wealth does have a connection with happiness and life satisfaction, not all nations show that wealthier nations are happy and developing nations are unhappy. In Latin America, for example, they are more satisfied and happy despite their economic balance. By comparison, Middle Eastern nations known for their high economies due to oil sales, record that they are dissatisfied by their lives. Egypt and Jordan, for example, revealed they were unsatisfied with their lives due to the political and economic upheavals in these regions. Asians and Africans, on their end, were recorded higher optimism and happiness rates within the people . Others also reported that happiness is also contributed to positive development policies and social improvements, allowing them satisfaction especially in poorer regions .
It is very difficult to describe and quantify emotions like happiness. Each person can become happy in different scenarios and how they show their happiness also varies. In terms of countries, determining happiness also varies depending on the angle taken into account. On the one hand, the economic stability of developed countries make them happier than the developing countries because it allows them to have a good quality of life and get more opportunities to remain happy. On the other hand; however, developing nations are happier than developed countries because despite their economic setbacks, they remain content, positive and possess strong faith that even after many calamities, they stand strong and happy. Although it is true that economic stability does contribute in happiness, not all people will be satisfied and happy with such economic prosperity. Regardless of the potential reasons for happiness in nations, happiness is determined by the people themselves.
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