Panama Ranks Highest
in Life Satisfaction Report
The
concept of "Quality of Life" is much discussed by academics in the
field. "What constitutes a “good life” has occupied leading philosophers
since Aristotle, and dozens of definitions of the “good life” are discussed in
the literature," according to the 2009 Report of the Commission
on the Measurement of Economic Performance and Social Progress chaired by
Nobel Prize-winning economists Professor Joseph E. Stiglitz and Professor
Amartya Sen, and by Professor Jean-Paul Fitoussi.
HAPPY
PLANET INDEX RANKINGS
These
results show the extent to which 151 countries across the globe produce long,
happy and sustainable lives for the people that live in them. The overall
index scores rank countries based on their life expectancy, experienced
well-being and Ecological Footprint.
o Ecological footprint (the amount of land needed to provide for all their resource requirements plus the amount of vegetated land needed to absorb all their CO2 emissions and the CO2 emissions embodied in the products they consume;)
o Life satisfaction (health as well as “subjective well-being” components such as a sense of individual vitality, opportunities to undertake meaningful, engaging activities, inner resources that help one cope when things go wrong, close relationships with friends and family, belonging to a wider community;)
o Life expectancy.
o Ecological footprint (the amount of land needed to provide for all their resource requirements plus the amount of vegetated land needed to absorb all their CO2 emissions and the CO2 emissions embodied in the products they consume;)
o Life satisfaction (health as well as “subjective well-being” components such as a sense of individual vitality, opportunities to undertake meaningful, engaging activities, inner resources that help one cope when things go wrong, close relationships with friends and family, belonging to a wider community;)
o Life expectancy.
Editor's
note: Panama ranks number 7 on the list, while the U.S. ranks number 150. Is it
caused by unreasonable expectations on the part of Americans, or are the living
conditions deteriorating in the United States?
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This very interesting and revealing free study can be found here