That's in line with the question that was asked: "The top of the ladder represents the best possible life for you and the bottom of the ladder represents the wo

That's in line with the question that was asked: "The top of the ladder represents the best possible life for you and the bottom of the ladder represents the worst possible life for you. On which step of the ladder would you say you personally feel you stand at this time?" Which has an implicit assumption that happiness = living your "best possible life". There are definitely people in Africa, Latin America, etc, who recognize they may have better prospects elsewhere, but if they're content with where they are… isn't that happiness too?