Where is your happy place? Maybe it's Slovenia
What if the secret to happiness was … low expectations? Most residents of rich, Western countries have relatively high earnings, but many also feel they can’t afford a reasonable lifestyle. Americans, for example, are getting richer but also more unhappy. Meanwhile Eastern Europeans, not generally known for their cheery disposition, are most satisfied with their comparatively lower income. In…
Is the key to happiness simply having modest expectations? People in prosperous Western nations often have high incomes but still feel dissatisfied with their standard of living. Americans, for instance, are becoming wealthier but increasingly unhappy. Conversely, Eastern European countries, not typically associated with a positive mood, report the highest levels of satisfaction despite having relatively lower incomes.
In 2018, psychologists from Purdue University and the University of Virginia analyzed previous survey data to determine the income necessary for happiness, adjusting for purchasing power. Their findings revealed that people in richer countries require greater earnings to be content. The same data was later adjusted for inflation and compared to actual earnings in each country. Eastern Europeans typically earn at least 70% of what they believe is necessary for happiness, yet it seems a lower income suffices for contentment.
Slovenians stand out as the happiest among those surveyed. Not only do they earn the highest average annual income ($42,800), but their earnings also surpass the amount they consider essential for happiness. This makes Slovenia the only country in the study where residents report feeling content with their current earnings level.
Written by urgent.news from The Korea Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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- Where is your happy place? Maybe it's Slovenia koreatimes.co.kr
