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Pour être heureux, faisons la guerre ! Une critique de l'économie du bonheur

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  • Christophe Salvat

    (CGGG - Centre Gilles-Gaston Granger - AMU - Aix Marseille Université - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique)

Abstract

Since 2012, the United Nations has published the World Happiness Report (WHR) each year, ranking countries based on the level of happiness reported by their inhabitants. This article aims to present the main findings and shortcomings of this type of survey, as well as of happiness economics more broadly. Particular attention is given to the historical evolution of how happiness has been taken into account in political and economic thought, and to the challenges posed by the measurement of subjective well-being. After examining the main limitations of self-assessment questionnaires—especially the so-called Cantril ladder used in the WHR—and analyzing some of the anomalies observed in the rankings in recent years, I conclude that, despite their interest, using such rankings as a basis for public decision-making—or even as a simple social benchmark—can prove to be as risky as it is counterproductive.

Suggested Citation

  • Christophe Salvat, 2024. "Pour être heureux, faisons la guerre ! Une critique de l'économie du bonheur," Post-Print halshs-05162824, HAL.
    • Handle: RePEc:hal:journl:halshs-05162824
    Note: View the original document on HAL open archive server: https://shs.hal.science/halshs-05162824v1
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. David G. Blanchflower & Andrew J. Oswald, 2005. "Happiness and the Human Development Index: The Paradox of Australia," NBER Working Papers 11416, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    2. repec:bla:ausecr:v:38:y:2005:i:3:p:307-318 is not listed on IDEAS
    3. David Colander, 2007. "Retrospectives: Edgeworth's Hedonimeter and the Quest to Measure Utility," Journal of Economic Perspectives, American Economic Association, vol. 21(2), pages 215-226, Spring.
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