Interdependence of quality of life and happiness of the population in southeast European countries

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to examine the interdependence between the quality of life measured by gross domestic product per capita (GDP/p.c.) and the happiness of population measured by the happiness index. The analysis is based on recent data from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on GDP/p.c. as well as the report from the United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network on the World Happiness Index. The subjects of analysis are the happiness of the population of Southeast European countries in European and global contexts and the level of GDP/p.c. at which the amount of happiness becomes independent of income. The research results are based on descriptive and inferential statistics methods. The main finding of this paper points to the need for a significant increase in quality of life in order to increase the happiness of the population of Southeast European countries.