The Origins of Happiness

Social Norms and Institutions

Income Log GDP per head.

Health Healthy life expectancy.

We shall look at each of these variables one by one. But

first let us look at how they all perform together. Altogether

they explain 76% of the variation in life- satisfaction across

countries^5 (see Figure 8.1 and Table 8.1). The levels of trust,

social support, and freedom are all extremely important.

Trust

Generosity

Social support

Freedom

Income

Health

0.11 (0.05)

0.07 (0.05)

0.20 (0.06)

0.18 (0.06)

0.38 (0.10)

0.24 (0.08)

β (s.e.)

0.0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4

Figure 8.1. How national life- satisfaction is predicted by different national

variables

Table 8.1. How national life- satisfaction (0– 10) is predicted

by different national variables

Units Coefficient (s.e.)

Trust Proportion 1.08 (0.45)

Generosity Proportion 0.54 (0.41)

Social support Proportion 2.03 (0.61)

Freedom Proportion 1.41 (0.49)

Income Log GDP per head 0.33 (0.75)

Health Years 0.03 (0.01)