Happiness in Canada since World War II

Abstract

Where data exist, measures of average happiness in industrialized countries typically show little or no upward trend over time, despite substantial growth in real per capita incomes. This paper examines the existing Canadian data to see if they support this generalization. The Canadian data have some overall positive trend. Some simple regressions suggest that per capita real incomes are positively associated with happiness, while unemployment and inflation appear to be negatively associated with happiness, a result also found in recent studies of Western Europe and the United States. Controlling for these variables, a negative time trend emerges.