America is richest country in the world-but definitively not the happiest-Statistics

**Atras** · 09-09-2011 01:10 AM

Originally Posted by snoop

What exactly were you saying? You keep saying that America is the richest, but when someone mentions that the measure of wealth per person indicates that we are not the richest (meaning almost no one but a few people in America are rich), you said that they are wrong and America is the richest. So if individual Americans are not the richest, you must be talking about the nation as a whole. It makes no sense to ask why not rich people would be not happy even if the nation as a whole is rich and to also claim that money cannot buy happiness (while also implying that more money = less happiness). It makes a lot of sense to ask why not rich people would not be happy if they, as individuals, are not rich, however. It isn't that hard of a concept to understand.

I am saying that america in general is the richest country. But why Its frusturating isnt because he doesnt agree, its because that wasn't even what the thread was about. The thread was about why are we unhappy when we are so rich IN GENERAL.

**Xei** · 09-09-2011 01:10 AM

Thank you snoop.

Originally Posted by Atras

Some people may disagree whether it is number 1 or number 2 or even number 7. Its irrelevant. The fact is that the US is still suprisingly low on the hapiness index and I am asking why is that.

But it isn't! If its GDP per head is 9th and its happiness is 12th, that's not statistically interesting all!

And looka above, I just provided other indicators in my previous post.

They were all national figures! None of them were per head!

If the US decided to split up into 50 countries tomorrow, would the resultant populations be 50 times poorer? Would we expect them to be 50 times unhappier?

The relevant figure is per capita. This is not a matter that can be sensibly debated.

**Atras** · 09-09-2011 01:12 AM

Originally Posted by Xei

But it isn't! If its GDP per head is 9th and its happiness is 12th, that's not statistically interesting all!

They were all national figures! None of them were per head!

If the US decided to split up into 50 countries tomorrow, would the resultant populations be 50 times poorer? Would we expect them to be 50 times unhappier?

The relevant figure is per capita. This is not a matter that can be sensibly debated.

12th is the lowest number. I also listed 13th, 17th, and 114th. If you don't find my question statistically interesting than don't comment. this thread has already been ruined.

ANd when I say richest I am talking about it nationally, not per head.

**Spartiate** · 09-09-2011 01:15 AM

If the USA is the richest country in the world, then where is all the money?

Maybe Americans are unhappy because their own personal lives don't reflect the commonly perceived national identity of being the best in the world. Americans have a superiority complex thrust upon them from birth.

**Atras** · 09-09-2011 01:16 AM

Originally Posted by Spartiate

If the USA is the richest country in the world, then where is all the money?

Maybe Americans are unhappy because their own personal lives don't reflect the commonly perceived national identity of being the best in the world. Americans have a superiority complex thrust upon them from birth.

I completely agree.

**Xei** · 09-09-2011 01:17 AM

It isn't ruined, and the only thing that could ruin it is a continued hostility to discussion.

You're being asked to refine and explicate your views, that's all, and your presumptions are being questioned.

Originally Posted by Atras

I am saying that america in general is the richest country. But why Its frusturating isnt because he doesnt agree, its because that wasn't even what the thread was about. The thread was about why are we unhappy when we are so rich IN GENERAL.

Because a country is not an objective entity! China is more than twice as rich 'in general' than Britain, but that means nothing at all; clearly it doesn't imply anything about how happy Chinese people are compared to British people.

**Spartiate** · 09-09-2011 01:17 AM

Originally Posted by Atras

ANd when I say richest I am talking about it nationally, not per head.

And is happiness measured nationally or per head...

**snoop** · 09-09-2011 01:18 AM

We get that you are talking about nationally, what you don't seem to have a grasp of at all is how that that is entirely irrelevant to personal happiness. The nation is rich, so what? If I'm poor as fuck chances are I'm going to be unhappy. The nation's wealth doesn't really concern me because I'm still poor as fuck! You're being completely irrational.

**Atras** · 09-09-2011 01:19 AM

Originally Posted by Spartiate

And is happiness measured nationally or per head...

I'm talking about richest not only in money but in standard of living.

**snoop** · 09-09-2011 01:19 AM

Originally Posted by Atras

I'm talking about richest not only in money but in standard of living.

Way to duck the question entirely.

**Atras** · 09-09-2011 01:20 AM

Originally Posted by snoop

Way to duck the question entirely.

I was responding to spartiate.

**Spartiate** · 09-09-2011 01:22 AM

Originally Posted by Atras

I'm talking about richest not only in money but in standard of living.

Do you honestly think that the USA has the best living standards in the world?

**snoop** · 09-09-2011 01:22 AM

Originally Posted by Atras

I was responding to spartiate.

I know, you didn't answer his question at all.

**Atras** · 09-09-2011 01:23 AM

Countries with highest standards of living. Its very close to first.

e 2010 Human Development Report by the United Nations Development Program was released on November 4, 2010, and calculates HDI values based on estimates for 2010. Below is the list of the "Very High Development" countries:[8]
Norway 0.938 ()
Australia 0.937 ()
New Zealand 0.907 ( 17)
United States 0.902 ( 9)
Ireland 0.895 ()
Liechtenstein 0.891 ( 13)
Netherlands 0.890 ( 1)
Canada 0.888 ( 4)
Sweden 0.885 ( 2)
Germany 0.885 ( 12)
Japan 0.884 ( 1)
South Korea 0.877 ( 14)
Switzerland 0.874 ( 4)
France 0.872 ( 6)
Israel 0.872 ( 12)
Finland 0.871 ( 4)
Iceland 0.869 ( 14)
Belgium 0.867 ( 1)
Denmark 0.866 ( 3)
Spain 0.863 ( 5)
Hong Kong 0.862 ( 3)
Greece 0.855 ( 3)
Italy 0.854 ( 5)
Luxembourg 0.852 ( 13)
Austria 0.851 ( 11)
United Kingdom 0.849 ( 5)
Singapore 0.846 ( 5)
Czech Republic 0.841 ( 8)
Slovenia 0.828 ()
Andorra 0.824 ( 2)
Slovakia 0.818 ( 11)
United Arab Emirates 0.815 ( 3)
Malta 0.815 ( 5)
Estonia 0.812 ( 6)
Cyprus 0.810 ( 3)
Hungary 0.805 ( 7)
Brunei 0.805 ( 7)
Qatar 0.803 ( 5)
Bahrain 0.801 ()
Portugal 0.795 ( 6)
Poland 0.795 ()
Barbados 0.788 ( 5)

**Spartiate** · 09-09-2011 01:26 AM

How much of your country have you seen?

**Atras** · 09-09-2011 01:27 AM

Originally Posted by Spartiate

How much of your country have you seen?

Alot of it. Again I'm talking about generalities. Obviously there are low standards of living in some parts of the country, as are there in every country.

**Ne-yo** · 09-09-2011 01:27 AM

Originally Posted by Spartiate

Americans have a superiority complex thrust upon them from birth.

And with every right, It's not like my country doesn't have a proven track record of being superior. The rest of you are squirrels trying to get a nut. lol

**Xei** · 09-09-2011 01:29 AM

^ Loving his neighbours.

**snoop** · 09-09-2011 01:31 AM

I'm going to attempt to explain (and answer your original question) one last time. I get that you are speaking in general here. You can state two different facts, that America is the richest country in general, and the fact that people here are unhappy in general. However, to understand why people are unhappy in general, you just have to think about it. Looking at the GDP per capita, it clearly shows that, in general, individual people in America are not very rich. So, when speaking in general, or more accurately averages (you would agree that it could be said that, on average, most people in America are unhappy), most of the people here aren't that wealthy. Most people here aren't that happy either. See a correlation? That is the answer to your question.

**Atras** · 09-09-2011 01:34 AM

Look, everyone. This thread was posted to discuss why america is not that happy when it is the richest or one of the richest countries in the world. Even if you don't agree that it is number one, I think we can all agree that it is up there. I don't wanna debate whether or not its the richest or the 2nd richest of the 7th richest because it is irrelevant to the question I asked. It is a waste of time and of a thread because no matter if your right and it is the 9th richest of I'm right and it is the richest, the question I originally posted still remains the same. I don't want to sound like I am discouraging differing opinions, I am not. I am just saying it is pointless to argue about small differences in the accuracy of my question when no matter who is right, my question would still remain the same. So c'mon, either answer the question and debate the actual question, or don't post. Just so I can get this pointless debate over with, I'll say okay, Xei your right, america is the 9th richest country. I still have the same question which is why is it the in studies the 12th, 13th, 17th, and 114th in happiness and well being. If you find this statistically uninteresting well, thats your opinion but keep it to yourself.

**Ne-yo** · 09-09-2011 01:35 AM

Originally Posted by Xei

^ Loving his neighbours.

Don't twist my words, I ain't got nuttin but love for you but it is what it is. Stop hating.

**Xei** · 09-09-2011 01:35 AM

The point of statistics is that it's objective, actually.

Originally Posted by Ne-yo

Don't twist my words, I ain't got nuttin but love for you but it is what it is. Stop hating.

What is what what is? The US is not on top of the pile when it comes to how much money its citizens make. I don't want to get into nationalist mud slinging because that is totally facile, I just want to point out that saying 'nah nah Spart, my country is superior to yours' is factually incorrect on top of being immature.

**Spartiate** · 09-09-2011 01:36 AM

Originally Posted by Atras

Alot of it. Again I'm talking about generalities. Obviously there are low standards of living in some parts of the country, as are there in every country.

I'm sorry but there are several countries that simply don't have the slums I've seen in the US. Also you did evade my earlier question. Why are you generalizing America's wealth if it's impossible to generalize happiness? Quality of life is tied to individual wealth.

Originally Posted by Ne-yo

And with every right, It's not like my country doesn't have a proven track record of being superior. The rest of you are squirrels trying to get a nut. lol

Are you one of those Americans that takes credit for winning WW2 or the Apollo program?

**Atras** · 09-09-2011 01:38 AM

Originally Posted by Spartiate

I'm sorry but there are several countries that simply don't have the slums I've seen in the US. Also you did evade my earlier question. Why are you generalizing America's wealth if it's impossible to generalize happiness? Quality of life is tied to individual wealth.

Are you one of those Americans that takes credit for winning WW2 or the Apollo program?

What country have you been too that doesn't have poor areas.

**snoop** · 09-09-2011 01:39 AM

Originally Posted by Atras

If you find this statistically uninteresting well, thats your opinion but keep it to yourself.

You can't open a topic for discussion and then tell people they can't discuss, that makes no sense. You could say that for anything, literally. "Well, that's just your opinion." You might as well say "Well that's just your opinion so somehow by some illogical thought process what you just said is less significant in meaning. You should just keep it to yourself because no one wants to hear your opinion in an open discussion." It sounds just as stupid to me.