Jolene - Prosperity vs Happiness

Being a prosperous country, are we a happy country? Unfortunately, the answer is no.

Singapore is relatively prosperous, having a GDP per capita of 57932, which is more than 1.2 times of the USA's, and a Happy Planet Index (HPI) score of 39.8 and ranks 90 out of 151 countries analysed.

On the other hand, China is less prosperous than Singapore, with a GDP per capita of 7559, which is one sixth of the USA's, but has a HPI score of 44.7 and ranks 60 out of 151 countries analysed.

The above data from www.happyplanetindex.org shows that Singapore is more prosperous, but less happy than China. Thus, it can be concluded that prosperity does not define happiness in a country.

However, the HPI is calculated from the experienced well-being, life expectancy and ecological footprint of a country. Singapore has a high ranking for experienced well-being and life expectancy but low ranking for ecological footprint, whereas China has a low ranking for experienced well-being and a middling ranking for life expectancy and ecological footprint. The data for the HPI of Singapore could have been affected by the extreme ranking of the ecological footprint, resulting in an overall lower HPI than China. Therefore, the data may not be as accurate or reliable due to the extreme ranking. Moreover, happiness cannot be defined by just a set of numbers and data.

Many people believe that being rich is the key to a better life. However, the key to a better life is happiness. While it is certainly true that money can help us to achieve our goals, provide for our future and make life more comfortable, it may not necessary guarantee happiness. Having lots of money to indulge in nice things and go on holidays do bring happiness but if wealthy people have no family or friends because they have been too busy making money, they may end up having nothing to spend it on. As a result, being rich in this case is a miserable as the poor who have no money to spend. In conclusion, the stresses of poverty and financial difficulty do make one unhappy, but being happy does not guarantee happiness.