Quality. Independence. Impact.

Home | Contact Us | Media Resources

Saturday November 21, 2009

Welcome   |   Register   |   Log in

Happiness

RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY

Save to My PortfolioWhy Are Afghans Smiling?

Carol Graham and Jeremy Shapiro, August 13, 2009, The Washington Post

Why Are Afghans Smiling?Though Afghanistan has been at war much of the last 30 years, Carol Graham and Jeremy Shapiro find that Afghans remain surprisingly happy. Graham and Shapiro believe adaptations to crime and corruption play a major role and argue that better understanding of multiple happiness factors, including Taliban influence, should shape future U.S. strategy in the country. Read More

Afghanistan, Happiness, Polling and Public Opinion, Crime, Economic Mobility

RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY

Save to My PortfolioWell-being and Public Attitudes in Afghanistan: Some Insights from the Economics of Happiness

Carol Graham and Soumya Chattopadhyay, May 04, 2009, The Brookings Institution

Well-being and Public Attitudes in Afghanistan: Some Insights from the Economics of HappinessIn Afghanistan, individuals have to cope with the most adverse of circumstances. Carol Graham and Soumya Chattopadhyay use tools provided by a new approach in economics that relies on surveys of happiness or reported well-being to deepen our understanding of conditions there.They conclude that average happiness scores in Afghanistan are higher than the world average and discuss the implications of this and other findings for policy. Read More

Happiness, Afghanistan, Economic Mobility, Economic Development, Polling and Public Opinion

RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY

Save to My PortfolioThe Fifth Summit of the Americas: Recommendations for Action

April 13, 2009, The Brookings Institution

The Fifth Summit of the Americas: Recommendations for ActionLeaders of the Western Hemisphere gathered in Trinidad and Tobago on April 17-19, 2009 for the fifth Summit of the Americas. In a series of commentary articles focused on the summit's agenda and key challenges, Brookings experts discuss critical economic, social, energy and climate change issues facing the leaders attending the summit and propose recommendations for policy action. Read More

Summit of the Americas, Latin America, Global Economics, South America, Central America

VIDEO

Save to My PortfolioThe Summit of the Americas and Regional Development Banks

Mauricio Cárdenas, April 10, 2009

Mauricio Cárdenas, director of the Latin America Initiative, says the focus of the fifth Summit of the Americas will be the global economic crisis. He also explains that the nations need to agree on strengthening regional development banks and that certain countries need open trade.

Summit of the Americas, Latin America, Developing Countries, Development, Trade

PAST EVENT

Save to My PortfolioThe Economics of Happiness in Latin America

Wednesday, January 21, 2009
11:00 AM to 12:30 PM
Washington, DC

The Economics of Happiness in Latin AmericaIn spite of the challenges posed by poverty and high levels of inequality in Latin America, studies show its people are generally happy and continue to support market reforms and democracy. Yet, in the midst of the global financial crisis, will this trend shift in Latin America? On January 21, the Latin America Initiative at Brookings hosted a discussion on the current trends in the region in terms of economic growth, inflation, unemployment and the financial crisis, based on the most recent evaluations from a new approach in economics: the economics of happiness. Read More

Latin America, Happiness, Global Financial Crisis, Economic Development, Global Economics

RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY

Save to My PortfolioThe Financial Crisis and Pursuing Happiness

Carol Graham, November 25, 2008, Connecticut Public Broadcasting Network

The Financial Crisis and Pursuing HappinessIn a recent interview, Carol Graham discusses how happiness and general well being has been affected by the recent financial crisis. Read More

Happiness, Global Economics, Global Financial Crisis, Financial Markets, U.S. Economy

RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY

Save to My PortfolioGross National Happiness and the Economy

Carol Graham and Soumya Chattopadhyay, October 24, 2008, The Globalist

Gross National Happiness and the EconomyAs the global financial crisis continues, Carol Graham and Soumya Chattopadhyay examine the potential impact of the crisis on the happiness level of Americans and discuss ways happiness rises and falls with economic changes. Read More

Happiness, Global Economics, U.S. Economy, Financial Markets

RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY

Save to My PortfolioAre the Media Making Us Feel Worse?

Gregg Easterbrook, June 16, 2008, NPR's Talk of the Nation

Americans are bombarded by negative images of life nationally and around the world. But are things really as bad as they seem? Gregg Easterbrook argues that, "even if a recession has begun, occasional cycles of slow or no growth are the price we pay for the much longer cycles of boom" — and that we really are better off than what we're being told to believe. Read More

Happiness, Quality-of-Life Issues, Subjective Well-being

RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY

Save to My PortfolioLife Is Good, So Why Do We Feel So Bad?

Gregg Easterbrook, June 13, 2008, The Wall Street Journal

Most Americans perceive the nation in a pessimistic state.  With the economy in turmoil, gas prices rising dramatically, and the housing market down, Americans are negatively viewing the current state of the nation.  However, Gregg Easterbrook argues that we should feel good about our standing and that America is in a better state than before. Read More

Happiness, Quality-of-Life Issues, Subjective Well-being

RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY

Save to My PortfolioHow Can We Restore Americans' Sense of Optimism?

Gregg Easterbrook, June 11, 2008, NewTalk

Some have suggested that optimism has faded because Americans have lost confidence in the country’s ability to steer the country in the right direction. Gregg Easterbrook joins a panel of experts on NewTalk to engage in a running discussion about restoring Americans' sense of optimism. Read More

U.S. Politics, Happiness, Civil Society, Quality-of-Life Issues

RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY

Save to My PortfolioHappiness And Health: Lessons—And Questions—For Public Policy

Carol Graham, January 01, 2008, Project HOPE - Health Affairs January/February 2008

Carol Graham reviews the happiness-health relationship from an economics perspective, highlighting the role of adaptation. Read More

Happiness, Economic Mobility, Health Care

RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY

Save to My PortfolioShopping and Happiness

Carol Graham, November 27, 2007, NPR - The Kojo Nnamdi Show

It's supposed to be the "most wonderful time of the year." But for many Americans, the obligatory shopping that we do around the holidays results in more stress and less contentment. Carol Graham considers how shopping affects our happiness levels and whether ratcheting down our consumption will make us more or less content as a society. Read More

Happiness, Social Issues

RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY

Save to My PortfolioObesity and the Influence of Others

Carol Graham, H. Peyton Young and Ross A. Hammond, August 21, 2007, The Washington Post

Op-ed by Carol Graham, Ross A. Hammond and H. Peyton Young (08/21/07) Read More

Happiness, Technology, Global Economics, Development, Subjective Well-being

RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY

Save to My PortfolioFor Frustrated Achievers, More Is Less

Carol Graham, July 12, 2007, Yahoo! Finance

Article about Carol Graham (07/12/07) Read More

Happiness, Global Economics, Development, Subjective Well-being

RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY

Save to My PortfolioMeasuring Happiness

Carol Graham, January 09, 2007, The Kojo Nnamdi Show (WAMU)

Interview wth Carol Graham, The Kojo Nnamdi Show (1/9/07) Read More

Macroeconomics, Happiness, Global Economics, Development, Subjective Well-being

In Brief

Analyzing the economics of happiness combines the techniques of economists and psychologists. Experts have measured the sense of well-being of hundreds of thousands of people around the world, and examined the surprising range of factors contributing to happiness.

Featured Expert

Carol Graham

Carol Graham

Senior Fellow, Foreign Policy, Global Economy and Development
Charles Robinson Chair in Foreign Policy Studies

Carol Graham’s research focuses on poverty, inequality, public health, and novel measures of well-being. Her projects have included a focus on the developing world and Latin America.
Read More

View All Experts on Happiness »

Advanced Search | Tips

My Portfolio

My New Content

View suggested content based on items you have saved to your Portfolio.
Log in or register now

Related Topics

View All Topics »

Related Initiatives

View All Initiatives »

Spotlight

ExpertMark McClellan

Mark McClellan works on promoting high-quality, innovative and affordable health care. Once commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration and administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Dr. McClellan now directs the Engelberg Center for Health Care Reform.

Research ProjectLatin America Initiative

The Latin America Initiative provides high-quality, in-depth, and independent research across a range of economic and political issues, and offers policy recommendations aimed at U.S. and Latin American policymakers.

ExpertVanda Felbab-Brown

Vanda Felbab-Brown focuses on the national security implications of illicit economies and strategies for managing them. She is an adjunct professor in the Security Studies Program at Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service.

ExpertSuzanne Maloney

Suzanne Maloney studies Iran, the political economy of the Persian Gulf and Middle East energy policy. A former U.S. State Department policy advisor, she has also counseled private companies on Middle East issues.

ProgramGovernance Studies

Governance Studies explores political institutions of the United States and other democracies to assess how they govern, how their practices compare and how citizens and public servants can advance sound governance.

TopicEducation

The economic and political well-being of any society requires a well-educated citizenry. Brookings’s work extends beyond the K-12 bookends to include pre-school interventions, higher education and the challenges of education in developing countries.

ExpertIsabel V. Sawhill

A nationally known budget expert, Isabel Sawhill focuses on domestic poverty and federal fiscal policy. She is also co-director of the Center on Children and Families at Brookings.

ExpertAmy Liu

Amy Liu is deputy director of the Brookings Metropolitan Policy Program. Her policy studies include economic competitiveness, metropolitan growth and development, governance reforms, urban reinvestment, and social equity.

Policy CenterEngelberg Center for Health Care Reform

The Engelberg Center for Health Care Reform provides practical solutions to achieve high-quality, innovative, affordable health care with particular emphasis on identifying opportunities on the national, state and local levels.

ExpertDomenico Lombardi

As president of the Oxford Institute for Economic Policy, Domenico Lombardi’s work at Brookings focuses on the international financial crisis and the reform of the IMF and the World Bank. He is an expert on G-20 and G8 Summits.

ExpertFederiga Bindi

Federiga Bindi is a leading expert on European political integration. She has a broad experience in government and held a number of posts in international organizations. Bindi currently serves as an advisor to the Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs. Her research focuses on the EU, transatlantic relations; EU states foreign policies, global governance issues.

TopicHealth Care

Brookings is committed to producing innovative policy solutions to our nation’s most difficult challenges. The country may face no more important domestic policy challenge than the much-needed reform of our health care system. Through an institution-wide effort, Brookings delivers new ideas and offers policy solutions to improve health care both at home and globally.

ExpertMwangi S. Kimenyi

Mwangi S. Kimenyi is a senior fellow with the Africa Growth Initiative. He focuses on Africa's development, including institutions for economic growth, the political economy, and private sector development.

Research ProjectBrookings-Bern Project on Internal Displacement

The Brookings-Bern Project on Internal Displacement monitors displacement problems worldwide, works with governments, regional bodies, international organizations and civil society to create more effective policies and institutional arrangements for Internally Displaed Persons.

ExpertTed Gayer

Ted Gayer is the co-director of the Economic Studies program and the Joseph A. Pechman Senior Fellow at the Brookings Institution. He conducts research on a variety of economic issues, focusing particularly on public finance, environmental and energy economics, housing, and regulatory policy.

Policy CenterCenter on Children and Families

The Center on Children and Families studies policies on the well-being of America's children and their parents and seeks a more effective means of addressing poverty, inequality and lack of opportunity in the United States.