1. Minimizing misery vs maximizing happiness
By Morgan Burford

2. Should public policies focus on reducing unhappiness?
Or should they focus on promoting happiness?

3. Well-being indicators were typically traditional measures
Why does this matter?
Well-being indicators were typically traditional measures
GDP
Income
Resources
Replaced or complemented with
People’s own assessment of their lives (quality of life)

4. All things considered, how satisfied are you with your life as a whole nowadays?

6. Findings
Income level strongly correlated with “misery”, but less so with “bliss”
Suggests that high income levels may help to avoid low psychological well-being
However, high income means less of a guarantee to achieve high well-being

7. Findings
Students currently in education have lower chance of being dissatisfied
Unemployment increases probability of being dissatisfied
Separation, divorce, and widowhood have higher chance of severe dissatisfaction
Health problems have higher probability of dissatisfaction and a lower probability of high satisfaction
Men are less likely to be among the most satisfied tenth of individuals
Ethnic minority backgrounds are more likely to have low life satisfaction

8. Key Takeaways Varies across social groups more than happiness
Mental illness or physical impairments
Broad social issues (unemployment, poverty, social isolation)
Bliss is a private matter
More efficient to target unhappiness
Complement with community strategies for promoting happiness