Brookings: Topics - Happiness

Why Are Afghans Smiling?

Thu, 13 Aug 2009 00:00:00 GMT

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.

Well-being and Public Attitudes in Afghanistan: Some Insights from the Economics of Happiness

Mon, 04 May 2009 00:00:00 GMT

In 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.

The Summit of the Americas and Regional Development Banks

Thu, 16 Apr 2009 09:51:07 GMT

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.

The Fifth Summit of the Americas: Recommendations for Action

Mon, 13 Apr 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Leaders 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.

The Economics of Happiness in Latin America

Wed, 21 Jan 2009 11:00:00 GMT

Event Information:

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

In 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.

The Financial Crisis and Pursuing Happiness

Tue, 25 Nov 2008 00:00:00 GMT

In a recent interview, Carol Graham discusses how happiness and general well being has been affected by the recent financial crisis.

Gross National Happiness and the Economy

Fri, 24 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT

As 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.

Are the Media Making Us Feel Worse?

Mon, 16 Jun 2008 00:00:00 GMT

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.

Life Is Good, So Why Do We Feel So Bad?

Fri, 13 Jun 2008 00:00:00 GMT

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.

How Can We Restore Americans' Sense of Optimism?

Wed, 11 Jun 2008 00:00:00 GMT

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.

Happiness And Health: Lessons—And Questions—For Public Policy

Tue, 01 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Carol Graham reviews the happiness-health relationship from aneconomics perspective, highlighting the role of adaptation.

Shopping and Happiness

Tue, 27 Nov 2007 00:00:00 GMT

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.

The New Republic's Easterbrook Joins Brookings as Visiting Fellow

Fri, 05 Oct 2007 19:10:20 GMT

A Brookings news release, November 2000.

Obesity and the Influence of Others

Tue, 21 Aug 2007 00:00:00 GMT

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

For Frustrated Achievers, More Is Less

Thu, 12 Jul 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Article about Carol Graham (07/12/07)

Measuring Happiness

Tue, 09 Jan 2007 00:00:00 GMT

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

Optimism and Poverty in Africa: Adaptation or a Means to Survival?

Sun, 01 Oct 2006 00:00:00 GMT

Paper by Carol Graham (October 2006)

The Economics of Happiness

Thu, 01 Sep 2005 00:00:00 GMT

Article by Carol Graham, World Economics (September 2005)

Variance in Obesity Across Cohorts and Countries: A Norms Based Explanation Using Happiness Surveys

Thu, 01 Sep 2005 00:00:00 GMT

CSED Working Paper by Carol Graham and Andrew Felton (September 2005)

Some Insights on Development from the Economics of Happiness

Fri, 01 Apr 2005 00:00:00 GMT

Article by Carol Graham, World Bank Research Observer (April 2005)

Does Inequality Matter to Individual Welfare? An Initial Exploration Based on Happiness Surveys from Latin America

Sat, 01 Jan 2005 00:00:00 GMT

CSED working paper 38 on perceptions of inequality among Latin Americans

The Economics of Happiness

Thu, 15 Jul 2004 00:00:00 GMT

Interview with Carol Graham, NPR's On Point (7/15/04)

Does Happiness Pay? An Exploration Based on Panel Data from Russia

Sun, 01 Feb 2004 00:00:00 GMT

Paper by Carol Graham, Andrew Eggers, and Sandip Sukhtankar

The Effects of Income Losses and Gains on Happiness: Do Temporary Trends Matter

Tue, 01 Jul 2003 00:00:00 GMT

The Effects of Income Losses and Gains on Happiness

Is Economic Crisis Reducing Support for Markets and Democracy in Latin America? Some Evidence from the Economics of Happiness

Fri, 01 Nov 2002 00:00:00 GMT

CSED Working Paper No. 30: ""Is Economic Crisis Reducing Support for Markets and Democracy in Latin America?

Does Happiness Pay? An Exploration Based on Panel Data from Russia

Wed, 01 May 2002 00:00:00 GMT

CSED Working Paper No. 28: Does Happiness Pay? An Exploration Based on Panel Data from Russia

Happiness and Hardship : Opportunity and Insecurity in New Market Economies

Sat, 01 Dec 2001 00:00:00 GMT

Graham and Pettinato provide a new conceptual framework for analyzing the relationship between subjective well being and the political sustainability of market-oriented economic growth in 17 Latin American countries and Russia.

Happiness, Markets, and Democracy: Latin America in Comparative Perspective

Tue, 01 Aug 2000 00:00:00 GMT

Latin America in Comparative Perspective

Assessing Hardship and Happiness: Trends in Mobility and Expectations in the New Market Economies

Fri, 01 Oct 1999 00:00:00 GMT

Hardship and Happiness: Trends in Mobility and Expectations in the New Market Economies, working paper by Carol Graham and Stefano Pettinato