The Pope of Happiness: A Festschrift for Ruut Veenhoven (Social Indicators Research Series, 82)

This book honors the work of Ruut Veenhoven, who has been a pioneer and leader in the field of happiness studies for the past 50 years. It brings together experts in the field discussing Veenhoven’s work as well as taking up themes from his workshops over the years to analyze how and where the field has expanded following his research. Veenhoven’s contributions include developing theories and measuring instruments, creating the world’s first and largest database of happiness research, founding the world’s first and most frequently cited Journal of Happiness Studies , and student development in and popularization of the field of happiness studies. He has extensive publications through the International Sociological Association and the International Society for Quality of Life Studies, and the research field of happiness studies would not have become as broad today without his enormous contributions. Friends and former students of Veenhoven provide both academic and anecdotal discussions in this festschrift, which is important for anyone interested in the development of happiness research. Preface Contents Chapter 1: Ruut Veenhoven ́s Livability Concept and Children ́s Happiness Around the Globe Introduction Background Research in Children ́s Subjective Well-being: Implications Methodological Implications Theoretical Implications Veenhoven ́s Livability: Applications to Determinants of Children ́s Happiness Conclusions References Chapter 2: Pursuing Happiness on the Road Less Traveled Introduction The Mona-Lisa-Effect Missing Our Target The Miracle of Being on the Right Track The Sacré-Coeur-Effect The Road Less Traveled References Chapter 3: Have the Dutch Become Happier? And What about the Dutch `Happiness Professor ́, Ruut Veenhoven? What is Happiness and can It Be Measured? Improved Social Conditions and Individual Opportunities GDP and Beyond Improved Objective Quality of Life Little Change in Subjective Quality of Life Stubborn Differences between Groups How will Ruut Veenhoven ́s Life Satisfaction Have Developed? References Chapter 4: The Forgotten Dimensions of Social Capital: Evidence from Quality of Life Studies Introduction Social Capital: One Term, Three Main Conceptions Method Results Discussion The Lack of Consideration for Relational Constrains of Social Capital The Lack of Vertical Dimension A Romantic Bias? Conclusion Appendix A (Source: Claridge 2004) References Chapter 5: Urban-Rural Happiness Differentials in The Netherlands Introduction Local Happiness in the Netherlands Further Exploring Urban-Rural Happiness Differentials Concluding Remarks Appendix: Descriptions of the Variables Included in the Analysis Bibliography Chapter 6: Happiness or Life Satisfaction? The Case of Children Discussion References Chapter 7: Ruut Veenhoven: Worthy Recipient of the Golden Triangle of Happiness Introduction SWB is Normally Stable and Positive Domain-based SWB Measurement The Golden Domain Triangle Standard of Living Relationships Achieving in Life Conclusions References Chapter 8: Our Fearless Leader Chapter 9: Your Happiness Comrade-in-arms Chapter 10: Il Maestro of Happiness Chapter 11: On the Scientific Study of Happiness Chapter 12: The Social Democratic Agenda: The Impact of Scandinavian Social Democratic Regimes on Income Equality, Economic Se... Introduction The Social Democratic Agenda: Reduce Income Inequality, Economic Insecurity and Gender Inequality Previous Research on the Effects of Welfare-Capitalist Regimes Assumptions, Model and Hypotheses Hypotheses Directly Linked to Social Democratic Policy Objectives Hypotheses Relating to Life Satisfaction Destratification Hypotheses: Potentially Benign Consequences of High Life Satisfaction Combined with Reduced Inequality Methods Data Sources Survey Data: The European Social Survey and National Panel Surveys Sample Weights National-Level (Aggregate) Data Measures Outcome Variables Data Analysis Results Income Inequality Economic Insecurity (Job Insecurity) Gender Inequality Levels of Life Satisfaction: Regime Differences Inequality of Life Satisfaction: Regime Differences `Destratification ́: Beneficial Consequences in Social Democratic Regimes of High Levels of Life Satisfaction Combined with Com... Differences in Life Satisfaction between People of High and Low Socio-economic Status, and between People with High and Low In... Regime Differences in Life Satisfaction between Men and Women, and in Satisfaction with `Work-Life Balance ́ Discussion References Chapter 13: Organizations with Virtuous Leaders Flourish More Introduction What is Virtuous Leadership? How Does Virtuous Leadership Relate to the Flourishing of Subordinates? How Does Virtuous Leadership Relate to the Flourishing of Leaders? How Does Virtuous Leadership Relate to the Flourishing of Organizations? Conclusion References Chapter 14: Moving Beyond GDP: Emerging Measures and Findings Beyond GDP Study 1: The New Index of Eudaimonic Well-Being Study 2: Factor Structure of Indicators of Societal Well-Being Concluding Remarks Resources and Data References Chapter 15: Zest and Adventures in Happiness Research Chapter 16: Ruut Veenhoven: A Very Wise Man Chapter 17: Unhappiness, Life-dissatisfaction and Economic Deprivation in the Philippines: Three Decades of Survey History References Chapter 18: Good Societies, Financial Inequality and Secrecy, and a Good Life: From Aristotle to Piketty Introduction Good Societies Measured by Their Effects Human Development Index (HDI) Weighted Index of Social Progress (WISP) Social Progress Index (SPI) Sustainable Society Index (SSI) Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index (GWB)) World Happiness Survey (WHS) Happiness Combined with Objective Measures Quality of Life/Well-Being Combined with Measures of Financial Inequality Gini-Weighted Indexes Financial Secrecy Scores (FSS) Offshore Wealth as a Fraction of GDP Objective and Subjective Bivariate Relations Happiness-Weighted Indexes Gini-weighted (Gw and Gi) Indexes, Offshore Wealth and Financial Secrecy Rank Ordering of Countries Using 21 Indexes Conclusion Appendix A: Overall Rankings Appendix A: Set 1 Rankings Appendix A: Set 2 Rankings Appendix A: Set 3 Rankings Appendix A: Set 4 Rankings Appendix B: Top 35 Countries Rank Ordered from Best Overall and 4 Sets, Plus FSS (N = 105) References Chapter 19: Hamba Kahle, `Go Well ́, from Africa Chapter 20: The Good Life under Attack: Reflections on the Future of the Quality of Life Concept References Chapter 21: Contentment and Affect in the Assessment of Life Satisfaction: More Empirical Findings and New Questions Introduction Micro-level Information The Relationship Between Contentment and Affect Contentment, Affect and Life Satisfaction Explanatory Power of Contentment and Affect in Explaining Life Satisfaction Final Comments References Chapter 22: A Happiness Path Taken Together: A Letter to Ruut So Here We Go a Trip Down Memory Lane A Turning Point in Prince George This Approach or That Approach, or Maybe.Do It All? Bullet-style Knowledge and How To Be Brainwashed Without Even Knowing The Ongoing Happiness Path Chapter 23: What Makes Chinese People Happy? Insights from a Traditional Chinese Essay and a Hong Kong Cantopop Thirty-Three Happy Moments in Life Ordinary Events Breed Happiness Happiness Can Be Derived from Nature Happiness Can Be Derived from Disappearance of Negative Feelings and Problem Solving Happiness is Derived from Completion of Responsibilities and Tasks Happiness is Derived from Helping Others Happiness is Derived from Friendship, Support from Significant-Others and Heritage Transcendence and Wish-Fulfilment Lead to Happiness ``Happiness ́ ́ in Hong Kong Cantopop General Discussion References Chapter 24: Calling for Social Support: Whose Support and What Types of Support Matter for Early Adolescents ́ Life Satisfactio... Rationale for Study Research Questions Method Participants Procedures Measures Results Preliminary Analyses Descriptive Statistics Correlations Multiple Regression Analyses Discussion Implications for Professionals and Future Research Directions References Chapter 25: The Relationship between Happiness and Public Policy: The Opinion of University Students Introduction Overview of the Online Course Thematic Analysis of the Forum ``Measuring Happiness ́ ́ Conclusions References Chapter 26: Prospective Well-being, Relative Income and Tolerance of Inequality in Japan Introduction Arguments Data and Measurement Results and Analysis Conclusion References Chapter 27: A Passion for Happiness: Ruut Veenhoven, Eudaimonia and the Good Life Introduction Veenhovian Happiness A Eudaimonic Perspective Pleasure and the Quality of Feelings The ``Cognitive ́ ́ Component A Brief Note on Morality Concluding Comments References Chapter 28: Wellbeing and the Four Qualities of Life Introduction Veenhoven ́s Matrix: Four Qualities of Life Veenhoven ́s Application of His Matrix to Western Philosophical Approaches to Wellbeing Veenhoven ́s Matrix and Western Philosophical Approaches to Wellbeing A Western Philosophical Wellbeing Matrix Inspired by Veenhoven Conclusion References Chapter 29: Ruut Veenhoven and the Latin-American Paradox in Happiness References Chapter 30: A Critique of the Conventional Methods of Survey Item Transformations, with an Eye to Quantification A Critical Look at a Class of Widely Used Transformation Methods Survey Questions Whose Response Scale Have an Inherent Metric Structure Survey Questions Whose Response Scale Do Not Have an Inherent Metric Structure Summary Remarks on a Class of Methods to Transform Extant Data before Pooling Concluding Remarks Enough with the Conventional Transformations A New Way Forward References Chapter 31: Photographs to Remember