## picture-this0324

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### Key findings from the World Happiness Report juxtaposed with GDP per capita
- GDP per capita is a significant predictor of happiness but not the only determinant.
- Other variables that help explain varying levels of happiness between countries include social support, life expectancy, freedom, generosity, and the absence of corruption.
- Several emerging market and middle-income economies and some low-income developing countries outrank advanced economies in self-reported life satisfaction, showing that factors beyond income play critical roles.
- The report advocates reevaluating success to integrate happiness as a key objective so governments can measure progress by the well-being of their citizens as well as by material wealth.

### Data and metrics (definitions and averages)
- The Cantril ladder: "Respondents are asked to think of a ladder, with the best possible life for them being a 10 and the worst possible life being a 0. They are then asked to rate their own current lives on that 0 to 10 scale."
- Rankings are from nationally representative samples for the years 2020–22.
- 2020–22 AVG. PPP 2017 INTERNATIONAL DOLLARS: AVERAGE $22,944
- 2020–2022 CANTRIL LADDER SCORES: AVERAGE 5.54
- SOURCE NOTE: PPP = purchasing power parity.

### Notable country examples and exact figures shown
- SINGAPORE — GDP per capita: $103,562; Cantril ladder: 6.59
  - "is second only to Luxembourg in terms of GDP per capita, yet it ranks outside the top 20 when it comes to happiness"
- FINLAND — GDP per capita: $48,586; Cantril ladder: 7.80
  - "is the number one ranked country in the world in terms of happiness, despite ranking outside the top 20 in terms of GDP per capita"
- COSTA RICA — GDP per capita: $20,290; Cantril ladder: 6.61
  - "has below average GDP per capita levels but ranks well above average in terms of happiness"
- KOSOVO — GDP per capita: $11,690; Cantril ladder: 6.37
- NICARAGUA — GDP per capita: $5,842; Cantril ladder: 6.26
- GUATEMALA — GDP per capita: $8,262; Cantril ladder: 6.15
- EL SALVADOR — GDP per capita: $8,962; Cantril ladder: 6.12
- HONDURAS — GDP per capita: $5,522; Cantril ladder: 6.02
- UZBEKISTAN — GDP per capita: $7,840; Cantril ladder: 6.01
- LEBANON — GDP per capita: $10,209; Cantril ladder: 2.39
- AFGHANISTAN — Cantril ladder: 1.86
- NETHERLANDS, THE — Cantril ladder: (7.40)

### Observations from the visualization and report commentary
- "The gray lines are all the other countries covered in the report. For the most part the higher a country’s GDP per capita, the higher it is likely to be on the Cantril ladder."
- Many countries rank comparatively high in terms of happiness despite GDP per capita levels that are well below the average.
- The World Happiness Report has evolved over a decade from a novel concept to an influential factor in advancing the inclusion of well-being metrics in policymaking.
- Example policy adoption: "in 2019 New Zealand introduced the Wellbeing Budget, targeting critical societal areas such as mental health and child welfare."

### Policy implications and recommendations highlighted
- Advocate policies that not only foster economic growth but enhance quality of life by integrating happiness as a policy objective.
- Use broader well-being metrics (social support, life expectancy, freedom, generosity, absence of corruption) alongside GDP to evaluate national progress and design policy interventions.

*Sources: IMF, World Economic Outlook database, October 2023; and 2023 World Happiness Report.*

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_Source: https://www.imf.org/-/media/files/publications/fandd/article/2024/03/picture-this0324.pdf_