Smile! We’re happier than the French and Germans… but we’re still far behind the Danes

December 30th, 2011

FAKE NEWS for the Zionist agenda

By
Steve Doughty

Last updated at 12:00 AM on 22nd December 2011

Here’s something to be cheery about – the British are happier than the French, according to a survey of well-being across Europe.

It found that one in five Britons can be described as ‘flourishing’, six per cent more than in France.

We even came in ahead of Germany, though only by a fraction of a per cent.

Smile! Brits are happier than Germans, Belgians and Spaniards though Scandanavian countries, Austria, German and Ireland are a bit more jolly

But this still leaves us far behind the happiest country in the continent – Denmark, where four in ten have high levels of well-being.

The Cambridge University study found that no country in Europe had a majority of their population feeling happy.

The most miserable countries, according to the research, were Portugal and Russia, with fewer than one in ten residents described as ‘flourishing’.

The findings were based on answers given by 43,000 people in 22 countries to a survey carried out in 2006 and 2007 – before the recession and the eurozone crisis.

It asked about ten areas of life, such as competence, optimism and self-esteem, thought to constitute positive well-being, to identify if those surveyed were ‘flourishing’.

The residents of Northern European countries were reckoned to be the happiest, followed by those in Southern Europe, with Eastern Europeans the least cheerful.

A number of the study’s conclusions
appeared to confirm stereotypes. The five nations ranked highest for
competence, for example, were Switzerland, Sweden, Denmark, Austria and
Germany. And Russians were bottom for optimism.

The report said: ‘Some nations showed very marked variability in their rankings.

Enlarge

‘France had the highest score in Europe on engagement but the lowest on self-esteem and was among the lowest on optimism and positive relationships.

‘In contrast, Spain had the highest score on self-esteem, but the lowest on measures of competence and vitality.

‘The UK was near the middle in overall well-being, as well as in almost every feature.’

The study comes after David Cameron ordered a £2million exercise to try to draw up an analysis of how happy Britain is.

Professor Felicia Huppert, who led the Cambridge research, said: ‘The UK Government, like many around the world, now recognises that economic measures such as gross domestic product do not provide adequate information about a society’s progress.

‘Governments also need to evaluate how citizens experience their lives, that is to measure their well-being.’

Here’s what other readers have said. Why not add your thoughts,
or debate this issue live on our message boards.

The comments below have not been moderated.

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United Kurmudgeons. What does it cost? Christmas decorations? Too costly, have fun – how much does that cost? We have turned into grumpy gits, still look at the twits we put in charge, any wonder why we are like it? Spend a pound to make a penny – no we try and spend a penny and think the pounds will roll in – dream on!

– Oh , Dear, 22/12/2011 09:03

Happier than a population on anti-depressants and a country famed for it’s lack of a sense of humour? Well, that’s really cheered me up!

– Dr Sheldon Cooper, tvland, 22/12/2011 08:56

I prefer German happiness to the British version. I can travel on the very best trains cheaply and without stress. I can see a dentist within hours for free. I can live in communities proud of their neighbourhoods. I can be very happy.

– Herr Lipp (ex pat), Happy Land, Gerrmany, 22/12/2011 08:54

We are all much happier since the amoeba Brown decided to hide under a rock.

– alimac, berkshire, 22/12/2011 08:52

Happy??/ what`s that

– Carl, Wales, 22/12/2011 08:33

Come on DM you could have used a better photo, I wouldn’t have called then happy.

– History, repeating itself , 22/12/2011 06:51

i like this article gives you a real estimate on the amount of b******t you can feed someone, after a survey of 43000 people probably the population of a small village in rhonda valley, uk 20% flourishing who they ask? people coming off ferries!!!!

– alan, shenzhen,china, 22/12/2011 06:41

Everything we do here in the UK comes with a – what does it cost the taxpayer when it comes to domestic entitlements, health care etc. Yet we will pile money up a mile high in the bank accounts of oppressive dictatorships. Funny old world innit?

– Times, Up, 22/12/2011 06:32

If we got out of the EU, I would celebrate.

– Mors Magne, London, 22/12/2011 05:59

“Flourishing” is not really a fact you can check is it?
Optimism is great, but self-esteem could also be a trait of someone who is arrogant and entitled.

– alekksey, NY USA, 22/12/2011 05:43

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