Happiness Measurability and Interpersonal Comparability

Simple ways to improve the accuracy and interpersonal and intertemporal comparability of happiness measurement include using happiness instead of life satisfaction (or other concepts), pinning down the dividing line of the zero amount of net happiness, using an interpersonally valid unit based on the just perceivable increment of happiness, and the complementary use of this method for small samples and the traditional methods for large samples.

Happiness and Criminal Victimization: A Study of Relationship and Restoration

Even well-developed nations with the highest economic growth rates have failed to bring happiness amongst their citizens. Consequently, recent studies have shifted their focus from economic variables, such as Human Development Index (HDI), gross development product (GDP) per capita, etc., to happiness as an indicator of growth, development and social progress. Amidst others, criminal victimization is one of the important indicators of happiness. The present article intends to study the relationship between happiness using the happiness measurement index and criminal victimization using the crime statistics of selected nations. It consists of a descriptive statistical analysis of six nations selected based on their happiness score, including two nations each with a high, average and low happiness measurement index. The results show that people living in nations with high crime rates were less happy and satisfied than individuals living in nations with comparatively lower crime rates. However, the article could not conclusively establish the relation between the happiness level and the nature of crime.

The Determinants Of Happiness: Empirical Evidence Of Java Island

Happiness research on economics has increasingly developed since Easterlin Paradox appeared. This research tries to analyze the determinants of happiness in Java Island, Indonesia. We use data from the Happiness Measurement Survey 2017 conducted by the BPS-Statistic Agency of Indonesia. Taking 23,456 observations, we employ binary logistic regression to test the effects of 13 independent variables on happiness. The results showed that income, education, health, social relations with family and society, environmental conditions, and a meaningful life affect happiness. In general, these findings strengthen some previous studies findings.

The Bingah scale: A development of the happiness measurement scale in the Sundanese

This study was conducted to create an instrument that measures the conditions of happiness felt by the Sundanese in Indonesia. This scale is named the Bingah Scale. The measurement instrument modification approach was used in this study, where the researcher had chosen the theoretical construct that was relevant to the happiness construct in the Sundanese, then made new items that measured the construct. This modification was carried out to get a more comprehensive measuring instrument because it was adjusted to the language and culture where the measuring instrument was used. The number of respondents involved in the study amounted to 526 participants who were the representations of the Sundanese who were selected using a purposive sampling technique. The results showed that there were 21 items, both psychometrically and feasible to be used as appropriate instruments to measure the condition of happiness in Sundanese.

How is Happiness Measured?

The article deals with the methodology of happiness measurement. Data from the European Social Survey, the European Value Survey and the World Happiness Index, that allow measuring the happiness level of the population and providing an opportunity to evaluate the situation of Lithuania in the context of other countries, are analysed. The discussion of research methodology highlights the main methodological differences applied in the above research. The comparative analysis shows that in Lithuania the happiness level remains the lowest among other European countries, although life satisfaction is growing. The conclusion is drawn that a low level of happiness can be determined not only by the economic level of the country or individual psychological conditions, but also by the cultural-social context of the country.

SOME CONCEPTUAL AND METHODOLOGICAL ISSUES ON HAPPINESS: LESSONS FROM EVOLUTIONARY BIOLOGY

Despite recent intense interest, happiness studies have been impeded by some conceptual and methodological problems, including viewing happiness (well-being/welfare) as different over different persons, as relative, multi-dimensional, non-cardinally measurable, interpersonally non-comparable and using non-cardinal and interpersonally non-comparable methods of happiness measurement. Using the evolutionary biology of happiness, this paper argues that happiness is absolute, universal, and uni-dimensional and is also cardinally measurable and interpersonally comparable. This is needed to make choices motivated by reward (pleasure) and punishment (pain) consistent with fitness maximization. However, happiness indices obtained by virtually all existing methods of happiness measurement are largely non-cardinal and non-comparable, making the use of averaging in group happiness indices of dubious philosophical validity. A method of measuring happiness to give cardinal and interpersonally comparable indices is discussed. These may contribute towards the more scientific study of happiness that is based on sounder methodological grounds as well as yielding more useful results.

Happiness

There has been a revolution in how economists treat the subject of happiness: in happiness measurement, in new economic insights related to happiness, and in the area of policy consequences. This has the potential to set up a stimulating dialogue. This chapter works through one possible imaginary exchange of views between economists and theologians, beginning with the new awareness in economics of the relative failure of economic growth to make people happy. Not surprisingly, the immediate response of the theologian to this insight is, “We know!” Theologians have always been clear about the limitations of material growth in providing happiness. The instinct of the theologian is then to argue that this supports his or her claim that true happiness can only be found in God. Thus far, the exchange has been quite predictable. However, the conversation need not end there. The economist is able to help the theologian refine and clarify what he or she means by “Christian happiness.”