mapping happiness

so everyone's in a tizzy about the first-ever "happiness map":

physorg reports and lists the top three as denmark, switzerland, and austria. many of the results are unsurprising if you follow the happiness pop literature. USA is 23rd.

it may be interesting to compare this to the economic freedom map:

(blue=most free)

i see some correlations (though it's been said before and better).

but i'm confused. does anyone know how this world happiness stuff matters at all if one's default-state affect is largely genetic? psychologists need to make up their minds.

check out some other maps, too.

Labels: neuroscience, well being