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This Hans Rosling talk from a few years ago shows how most indicators are improving worldwide (e.g. reductions in child mortality, GDP per capita). http://www.

This Hans Rosling talk from a few years ago shows how most indicators are improving worldwide (e.g. reductions in child mortality, GDP per capita). http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hVimVzgtD6w http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hVimVzgtD6w

gress 13y ago
Depression is also rising to epidemic proportions, suggesting that improving economic indicators may simply not have anything to do with quality of life.
- bmelton 13y ago
  I would probably be inclined to agree with that. From a report I read recently (which I can't find again, sorry) pertaining to my home town of Memphis, TN, apparently the general conclusion was that Memphians were happier than Nashvillians, despite the latter having better access to health care, better access to higher paying jobs, better community features (arts, entertainment, etc.) The report didn't postulate on what the actual cause might have been, or how happiness was measured (or, if it was, I've forgotten), but I found it interesting, and it does support your point here. It seems that, at least since I've been paying attention, America has been trying to optimize for wealth or income, though statistically, it seems that there is validity to the notion that money doesn't buy happiness. If we could better isolate the causes of happiness, we could start optimizing for those factors instead.
  - pigeons 13y ago
    Nashvillians don't want to be happy or else many wouldn't be able to effectively do their jobs of writing and performing country music.
    - bmelton 13y ago
      Eh. That argument cuts both ways. Memphis blues aren't quite as big a deal as Nashville country, but it exists, and, on paper at least, should make musicians wont to sadness.
- ak217 13y ago
  More like, mental health is not directly correlated with quality of life. Freed from the preoccupation of having to fight or work hard for basic needs, many people fail to find meaning in their life.
  - gress 13y ago
    Poor mental health = a low quality of life
  - collyw 13y ago
    Are you seriously suggesting that there are more incidences of mental health issues because people have easier lives?
    - philwelch 13y ago
      Why does that seem implausible?
      - gress 13y ago
        Because a life of mental illness is not easy.
        philwelch 13y ago
        But an easy life can make one neurotic.
        gress 13y ago
        How?
- eruditely 13y ago
  Measuring averages from the extreme is not-accurate(via Taleb)
  - gress 13y ago
    What has that got to do with anything that has been said?
- dredmorbius 13y ago
  GDP in particular has some huge problems as a measure of economic good. There are numerous alternative measures which have been proposed, though none have been widely adopted: FISH, GPI, UNHDI, GSDP, GESDI, etc. "Nobel Laureate: Examine Alternatives to GDP" http://www.scientificamerican.com/podcast/episode.cfm?id=nobel-laureate-examine-alternatives-11-02-25 http://www.scientificamerican.com/podcast/episode.cfm?id=nob...

gress 13y ago

Depression is also rising to epidemic proportions, suggesting that improving economic indicators may simply not have anything to do with quality of life.

bmelton 13y ago
I would probably be inclined to agree with that. From a report I read recently (which I can't find again, sorry) pertaining to my home town of Memphis, TN, apparently the general conclusion was that Memphians were happier than Nashvillians, despite the latter having better access to health care, better access to higher paying jobs, better community features (arts, entertainment, etc.) The report didn't postulate on what the actual cause might have been, or how happiness was measured (or, if it was, I've forgotten), but I found it interesting, and it does support your point here. It seems that, at least since I've been paying attention, America has been trying to optimize for wealth or income, though statistically, it seems that there is validity to the notion that money doesn't buy happiness. If we could better isolate the causes of happiness, we could start optimizing for those factors instead.
- pigeons 13y ago
  Nashvillians don't want to be happy or else many wouldn't be able to effectively do their jobs of writing and performing country music.
  - bmelton 13y ago
    Eh. That argument cuts both ways. Memphis blues aren't quite as big a deal as Nashville country, but it exists, and, on paper at least, should make musicians wont to sadness.
ak217 13y ago
More like, mental health is not directly correlated with quality of life. Freed from the preoccupation of having to fight or work hard for basic needs, many people fail to find meaning in their life.
- gress 13y ago
  Poor mental health = a low quality of life
- collyw 13y ago
  Are you seriously suggesting that there are more incidences of mental health issues because people have easier lives?
  - philwelch 13y ago
    Why does that seem implausible?
    - gress 13y ago
      Because a life of mental illness is not easy.
      - philwelch 13y ago
        But an easy life can make one neurotic.
        gress 13y ago
        How?
eruditely 13y ago
Measuring averages from the extreme is not-accurate(via Taleb)
- gress 13y ago
  What has that got to do with anything that has been said?
dredmorbius 13y ago
GDP in particular has some huge problems as a measure of economic good. There are numerous alternative measures which have been proposed, though none have been widely adopted: FISH, GPI, UNHDI, GSDP, GESDI, etc. "Nobel Laureate: Examine Alternatives to GDP" http://www.scientificamerican.com/podcast/episode.cfm?id=nobel-laureate-examine-alternatives-11-02-25 http://www.scientificamerican.com/podcast/episode.cfm?id=nob...