Measuring and using happiness to support public policies

Abstract

This chapter summarizes the philosophical and empirical grounds for giving a primary role to the evaluations that people make of the quality of their lives. These evaluations permit comparisons among communities, regions, nations, and population subgroups; enable the estimation of the relative importance of various sources of happiness; and provide a well-being lens to aid the choice of public policies to support well-being. Available results expose the primacy of social determinants of happiness and especially the power of generosity and other positive social connections to improve the levels, distribution, and sustainability of well-being.