WeHappers· 5 min read
Sparking Global Happiness
Discover how small acts of kindness can create a ripple effect of positivity, leading to increased happiness worldwide.
Have you ever imagined a business success story that focuses on more than just concrete profit figures?
Is your personal satisfaction dependent on something beyond financial prosperity?
Is the key to a thriving global market embedded in equal wealth distribution, transcending the bare profit motive?
The intricate relationship between global happiness and fair wealth distribution forms the cornerstone of societal health, a fact validated by a legion of disciplines.
The impact of wealth inequalities.
The United Nations’ World Happiness Report [1], a paragon of scientific precision, ranks the happiness quotient of nations. Yet, it becomes undeniably clear that individual wealth is not the magic key to bliss. Instead, an equitably distributed wealth has an outsized influence on boosting overall contentment. Prominent economists [2] like Thomas Piketty shine a harsh light on the deepening wealth chasm through seminal works like “Capital in the Twenty-First Century”. This widened gap correlates directly to dampened happiness levels. An assertion supported by researchers from the Journal of Happiness Studies [3], demonstrating a commensurate decline in happiness scores alongside spikes in wealth inequality.
The Easterlin Paradox [4], a provocative 1970s theory by economist Richard Easterlin, indicates that beyond a certain wealth threshold, additional wealth does not directly boost happiness. While wealth satiates our basic needs, it doesn’t solely engineer our holistic happiness.
Equitable wealth distribution and Societal Happiness.
Community, an influential social framework, has a pronounced impact on happiness, independent of individual wealth. Addressing wealth disparity is pivotal in the battle for global happiness. The thrust is toward initiatives that promote robust social welfare, accessible education and healthcare, thereby bridging the wealth gap and enhancing societal well-being.
Bhutan’s Gross National Happiness (GNH) index [5], a blend of economic, environmental, and social factors, accentuates overall societal progress over mere economic growth. It offers a multifaceted measure of prosperity.
Despite the robust scientific validation of the connection between fair wealth distribution and amplified happiness, implementing such programs remains an uphill battle. The secret sauce is in collective human effort, unified in creating inclusive strategies that ensure equal access to resources and opportunities.
Societal happiness swells beyond individual wealth, nurtured through equitable resource distribution, resilient support networks, and community togetherness. The 10 grave pitfalls of ignoring this issue spell out a dire need for immediate, practical solutions.
Acting swiftly to correct these imbalances is key, to inhibit further societal rifts and to foster global harmony and satisfaction. It’s high time we fired up innovative and cooperative programs.
Wehappers’ initiatives.
Fuelling happiness transcends far beyond the accumulation of profits; it’s about fostering collective aspirations. The trailblazing Wehappers initiative presents an innovative blueprint, harnessing and redistributing available resources — wealth, time, and skills — to elevate the happiness index beyond mere financial metrics. It’s not simply about hoarding wealth, but about a powerful reinvestment in shared ambitions, thereby sparking a chain of trust and happiness that transcends the conventional ledger.
We extend our invitation to the transformers who believe in employing technology for a positive societal shift.
Welcome to the visionary league of ‘Happers’!
References:
[1] According to the world happiness report , more people have come to believe that our success as countries should be judged by the happiness of our people. There is also a growing consensus about how happiness should be measured. This consensus means that national happiness can now become an operational objective for governments.
[2] Joseph E. Stiglitz: 2001 Nobel laureate American economist, Stiglitz has extensively written on income inequality and its societal implications. His book “The Price of Inequality: How Today’s Divided Society Endangers Our Future” delves into the consequences of widening income gaps and proposes solutions for a fairer society.
Amartya Sen: 1998 Nobel Laureate Indian economist, is known for his work on welfare economics and social choice theory.
Sen has contributed significantly to understanding human well-being beyond economic indicators. His book “Development as Freedom” argues that freedom is essential for development, extending beyond mere economic growth to encompass broader aspects of human flourishing.
Angus Deaton: 2015 Nobel laureate Scottish economist, Deaton’s research focuses on poverty, health, and economic development.
In his book “The Great Escape: Health, Wealth, and the Origins of Inequality,” he examines how advancements in health and wealth have altered societies and contributed to inequality, shedding light on the complex interplay between these factors.
Each of these economists and their seminal works provides unique perspectives and insights into the relationship between wealth distribution, happiness, and societal well-being. Their contributions add depth and nuance to the understanding of these critical issues.
[3] The international peer-reviewed “Journal of Happiness Studies” is devoted to theoretical and applied advancements in all areas of well-being research. It covers topics referring to the hedonic and eudaimonic perspectives characterizing well-being studies.
[4] Free ressources to know more about the Easterlin Paradox.
[5] The GNH Index is also known as the GNH Happiness Survey. It includes the nine domains, which are further supported by the 33 indicators. It is a measurement tool used for policy making to increase GNH
