Will This Be the Happiest Place in the World?

People who don't need to resort full attention to survival turn to more fulfilling pursuits including happiness. The United Arab Emirates is intent on developing itself as a place of happiness, by appointing a state minister, renaming some departments, and selecting 60 officials to travel overseas to study the state of mind and how it spreads. “Currently ranked 28th out of 156 countries surveyed in the United Nations’ 2016 World Happiness Report, the UAE wants to climb the rankings and sit within the top five by 2021,” writes Louise Redvers for BBC News. Critics suggest that the effort may be Orwellian, patronizing and futile. Drivers for happiness, like goals, vary immensely among individuals; some focus on immediate circumstances and others care about future generations. Some citizens can't be content in a nation with authoritarian governance that depends on migrants, many separated from their families and living in temporary camps. Happiness researchers maintain that government policies can improve citizen attitudes by reducing stress and illness as well as target economic gains for community improvements and higher living standards. – YaleGlobal