What A Day Quantifying Happiness In 2026
Dec 17, 2025
Michael Plant, founder of the Happier Lives Institute, dives into the complexities of happiness in today's turbulent times. He discusses how happiness can be quantified through life satisfaction metrics, revealing that self-reported well-being often paints a clearer picture than economic indicators like GDP. Plant argues for policies prioritizing happiness over income, highlighting key factors like health, relationships, and purpose. He offers actionable steps for individuals to boost their well-being, emphasizing social connections and seeking help when needed.
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Ask People How Happy They Are
- Happiness can be measured simply by asking people to rate their wellbeing on a 0–10 scale.
- This direct approach often outperforms judging lives by economic metrics like GDP.
Expectations Shape Political Outcomes
- Happiness depends on how people's circumstances compare to their expectations.
- Falling life satisfaction in the U.S. likely contributed to rising populist voting behavior.
Measure Wellbeing To Prioritize It
- Many wealthy countries now include wellbeing in national statistics, but the U.S. largely does not.
- Measuring happiness is necessary to make it a policy priority.