Who's Happier: Europeans or Americans?

[n2doc]

Joseph Brownstein, LiveScience ContributorDate: 15 April 2011


Americans really do love to work, it seems, while Europeans are much happier if they skip burning the midnight oil in favor of leisure. That's according to a new study finding longer work hours make Europeans unhappy while Americans get a very slight (albeit not statistically significant) bliss boost from the extra grind.

"Those who work longer hours in Europe are less happy than those who work shorter hours, but in the U.S. it's the other way around," said study author Adam Okulicz-Kozaryn, a clinical assistant professor of public policy at The University of Texas at Dallas. "The working hours' category does not have a very big impact on the probability of happiness of Americans."

The study, based on survey data, can't tease out whether work causes happiness or unhappiness, though the researchers speculate the effect has to do with expectations and how a person measures success.

They found that the likelihood of Europeans' describing themselves as "very happy" dropped from around 28 percent to 23 percent as work hours climbed from under 17 hours a week to more than 60 hours per week. Americans, on the other hand, held steady, with about a 43 percent chance of describing themselves as happy regardless of working hours.


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http://www.livescience.com/13737-happiness-europeans-americans-keys.html

[liberal N proud]

1. Gee we are dumb

[lutefisk]

2. But at least some of us are smart enough to realize it

That has to be worth something.

:shrug:

:hi:

[xchrom]

3. recommend

[Sirveri]

4. Maybe it's because they're paid a living wage for their labor.

While we have to slave to have any spare capital to have any fun with.

[Johonny]

5. I agree

I love the weekend, but after all the $$ I spend I'm glad to be at work. I simply spend less money on the days I work than the days off. Working means not only am I making money but I spending less of it :)

[ohheckyeah]

6. I need to move to Europe.

I get some satisfaction if the work is something I actually enjoy doing. But most jobs aren't really enjoyable.