HAPPY CHAPPIES

International surveys regularly record that Denmark is the happiest country on earth, and the latest one, carried out on behalf of the U.N., did the same. But why?

The Scandinavian welfare model certainly helps. All four Nordic countries were in the top 10, as well as egalitarian societies such as the Netherlands and Canada. So too do riches. All of the top 10 countries were rich, whereas all of the bottom 10 were dirt poor, usually in Africa. Clearly if you have to struggle in order to survive, it is going to be difficult to be happy.

However, although Danes say that they are truly happy, is it true? I have to admit to having doubts. My wife, for instance, has a business helping troubled teenagers with their problems and insecurities; she doesn't seem to be short of clients. There also seem to be a lot of people going down with stress; the numbers receiving "førtidspensioner" (pensions given to people of working age, who are no longer able to work) have shot up during the past decade. And unemployment, particularly youth unemployment, has rocketed, though it is still lower than in other E.U. countries like Spain and Greece. Since the young tend, in general, to be more optimisitic than their more grizzled elders, this ought to be reflected in the figures.

Whatever the truth today, I predict that Denmark will not be top of the list in 10 years' time. Research has shown that happiness is closely correlated with economic performance. Since that is forecast to be modest, if not worse, expect more unhappy Danes in the future. 

Walter Blotscher