Economists, sociologists, policy makers can measure economic progress and rank countries by ..

• improving life expectancy
• improving YLD (healthy longevity)
• improving infant mortality
• improving national average BMI
• improving incident of untreated blindness or seriouis skin condition
• improving national average home size (holding constant family size)
• improving quality of nutrition
• improving birth control success
• improving national average numbe of off-days in a year, and average work hours (shorter=improving)

I will add a few yardsticks of my own

• improving frequency of intimacy for married persons of a given age band. The poor often have less time for it, due to overwork, seperation, health.
• improving national average amount of sleep
• improving frequency of sightseeing trips
• improving national average commute length and comfort level
• improving frequency of overseas family reunions
• improving frequency of IDD call with family

How about inflation-adjusted average household income reported in official statistics?

==== growing richer but not happier
“Compared to the post-war era or pre-modernization era, we are substantially richer but no happier.”

This is a dominant [widely shared] observation in many countries, at both a societal and a personal level.

In contrast to satisfaction and fulfillment, “happy” is a short-term self-assessment/rating. Re hbA1c vs FPG.

Here are some random factors

— reason::oblivion .. I think most people won’t bother to focus or reflect on everyday forgetable happiness, including those doses of delight. Most people have no bandwidth and have to to focus our mental energy on the problems to solve. Therefore, we tend to remember our adversities [sufferings, difficulties, frustrations, setbacks, declines]. The longer we live, the more difficulties we encounter. Our happiness self-rating would tend to decline. Therefore, improving longevity reflects economic progress but tends to affect happiness rating.

reason:: BNH [Basic-healthy nutrition] .. our increasing wealth makes BHN easily achievable. Ratio of medHhIncome/BhnCost reflects economic progress. However, in majority of the local population BHN bring minimal happiness, largely due to FOLB.

— reason::stress:: faster pace demanded at work .. (rather than 细水长流 ).. Many older workers lament that managers expect faster turnaround compared to earlier eras. End users expect speed + quality, which generates stress across the service sector. Singapore service sector is know for speed + quality.

— reason::stress:: sleep_easy .. physical wealth seldom gives the individual better sleep, but granted, wealth can bring you a quiet home and flexible work hours.

— reason::tech:: tech churn in personal tech .. I think many (esp. older) adults don’t want to keep learning, adjusting to new tech. Many feel forced to do so. The GUI is often designed for and tested with younger users.

— reason::tech:: isolation due to digital communication. Digital comm is a big part of economic progress, but it doesn’t make me happier.

— reason::lack of meaning in our jobs.. In earlier eras, jobs are simpler and often more meaningful like manual labor, local service provider. With technology and automation taking over many simpler jobs, the more “human” jobs are more complex but lacking in meaning/engagement/stability.

— reason:: More years spent taking care of sick parents.. Watching their decline somehow makes me feel less happy For Them.. pessimism.

How about mom and dad after selling the home? I think they would indeed get a better quality of life in the luxury retirement home. Grandma would become happier .. I choose to be optimistic for both of them.

— reason::financial::inflation .. (rent, medical, transport, fashion, entertainment,,,) creates long-term worry in any age group. I think in previous eras, the average people don’t save so much, and don’t live so long

— reason::financial:: delayed and prolonged retiremenet phase

Unwanted obligation to save for retirement… is a decade-long thankless job and constant sacrifice.
This obligation, sacrifice, stewardship, due diligence, risk-management,,, affecs our simple happiness. We are forced to stay on our toes.

People in poor living conditions don’t need to save that much for retirement, and their retirement years are shorter.

Involuntary delay to retirement .. often due to inadequate retirement plann