In this modern world, it seems that all anybody wants is to be happy. In education, employment, and even in personal life, the desire for happiness plays a crucial role in how people live their lives and is a common motivator behind a person’s behavior. However, the true meaning of happiness is warped by those seeking to profit off others, resulting in many perfectly content individuals considering themselves unhappy. This perversion twists the meaning of happiness into an unattainable ideal, leading many to feel that they will always be in relentless pursuit of joy, yet never reach it. This phenomenon has resulted in poorer mental health and a greater sense of dissatisfaction worldwide. The World Population Report, through ranking nations based on their perceived happiness levels, reflects this growing discontent and demonstrates the profound impact of capitalism on personal happiness. Currently, Finland tops the World Happiness Report while the U.S. staggers behind at #21. According to the World Population Report, happiness can be measured using six categories: GDP per capita, healthy life expectancy, social support, freedom to make life choices, generosity, and perceptions of corruption. These categories give a general understanding of where the population stands compared to other countries in regards to personal security, agency, and, most importantly, happiness. After interviewing citizens, countries are then ranked on a scale of 1 to 10. Finland, in 2024, received the highest score yet, that being a 7.74.
According to research from Britannica, Finland’s happiness lies in its robust social support system, natural beauty, and its culture. In regard to social support, Finland’s government offers comprehensive welfare benefits such as health care, education, and unemployment support. These resources reduce stress and anxiety by offering something to fall back on if times get tough; they build both civilian trust in the government and allow citizens to focus on personal growth and community engagement rather than financial stressors. As a result of this, Finnish citizens have reported some of the highest feelings of trust toward their government. The impact of Finland’s natural resources, however, is not to be neglected, as the country’s wondrous natural beauty has a massive influence on mental well-being. In regard to culture, Finland places a strong emphasis on a healthy work-life balance, enabling its inhabitants to take time for relaxation and rehabilitation. So, what about the U.S.? Why aren’t we as happy as Finland, and what can we do to change this? According to Jeffrey Sachs, the Director of the Center for Sustainable Development at Columbia University in New York, “America’s subjective well-being is being systematically undermined by three interrelated epidemic diseases, notably obesity, substance abuse (especially opioid addiction), and depression…” (Narconon). It goes without saying that the U.S. has been under quite a lot of stress in recent years. This stress has left many Americans depressed, anxious, and feeling an overall distrust toward their government and its ability to protect and provide for them. This feeling is the exact opposite of what Finland has demonstrated makes a happy country. However, Finland is not without its own issues. In fact, Finland has been struggling with economic issues involving cuts to the social security and healthcare systems, a government rolling back protections for migrants and asylum seekers, lack of free speech in regard to assembly, and even systemic discrimination and deepening senses of structural racism (Amnesty International). These qualities do not appear to reflect the “happiest country in the world.” So what is going on?
The way that the world thinks about happiness as something that can be captured, embodied, and ranked is fundamentally incorrect. The existence of a “World Happiness Report” goes against the deeply personal nature of happiness. According to Harvard University’s class “Psychology and the Good Life,” happiness is much less about factors such as wealth, fame, or social class, and instead the quality of close relationships, feeling sufficiently challenged, fully inhabiting moments, and finding purpose through experiences and connection.
In this modern world, happiness is always being sold, rather than taught. Oftentimes, happiness is commodified, boxed, and sold with no true impact on the happiness of the people buying and selling. The exploitation of happiness, though more apparent in America’s highly consumerist society, is present all over the world. Truly, the quality of one’s happiness depends more on the individual than the country in which they live.