Risky Business with Nate Silver and Maria Konnikova Why Are Some Countries Happier Than Others?
Dec 31, 2025
Discover why Finland tops the World Happiness Report and what that means for measuring joy across nations. Dive into on-the-ground impressions from Nordic countries showcasing cultural influences on well-being. Explore the intriguing six drivers of happiness and the diminishing returns of income. Uncover how trust, public investment, and community shape societal happiness. Plus, learn about the impact of genetics and social connections on life satisfaction. Fascinating insights await!
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On-the-Ground Nordic Observations
- Nate describes Finnish saunas, quick drink offerings, and accessible public design as noticeable happiness cues.
- He credits good architecture and accommodations for children and elderly as small contributors.
Single-Question National Happiness Measure
- The World Happiness Report uses a single Cantril Ladder question to measure national life satisfaction.
- Gallup collects ~1,000 responses per country and the report averages three years to stabilize estimates.
Six Drivers Explain Most Happiness Variation
- Six factors explain about three quarters of cross-country happiness variation.
- Those are social support, log GDP per capita, healthy life expectancy, freedom, generosity, and low corruption.