New insights into what makes people happy and how policymakers can
foster greater satisfaction for all
During the past forty years, thousands of studies have been carried out
on the subject of happiness. Some have explored the levels of happiness
or dissatisfaction associated with typical daily activities, such as
working, seeing friends, or doing household chores. Others have tried to
determine the extent to which income, family, religion, and other
factors are associated with the satisfaction people feel about their
lives. The Gallup organization has begun conducting global surveys of
happiness, and several countries are considering publishing periodic
reports on the growth or decline of happiness among their people. One
nation, tiny Bhutan, has actually made "Gross National Happiness" the
central aim of its domestic policy. How might happiness research affect
government policy in the United States--and beyond? In The Politics of
Happiness, former Harvard president Derek Bok examines how governments
could use the rapidly growing research data on what makes people
happy--in a variety of policy areas to increase well-being and improve
the quality of life for all their citizens.
Bok first describes the principal findings of happiness researchers. He
considers how reliable the results appear to be and whether they deserve
to be taken into account in devising government policies. Recognizing
both the strengths and weaknesses of happiness research, Bok looks at
the policy implications for economic growth, equality, retirement,
unemployment, health care, mental health, family programs, education,
and government quality, among other subjects. Timely and incisive, The
Politics of Happiness sheds new light on what makes people happy and
how government policy could foster greater satisfaction for all.
