NOSLEEP Loc: Calgary

These are not my words...

Despite welfare state and wine, unhappiness reigns in France.
The French are among the unhappiest people on the planet.

http://news.nationalpost.com/2013/03/26/les-miserables-despite-welfare-state-and-wine-unhappiness-reigns-in-france/

“It has now become common knowledge that the French are much less happy and optimistic than their standard of living would predict,” says The French Unhappiness Puzzle: The Cultural Dimension of Happiness by researcher Claudia Senik.
She suggests that French schools and the loss of prestige in the world may have contributed to the country’s unhappiness.
Despite free access to health care, hospitals, public school and universities, dissatisfaction is so prevalent in France it ranked worse than Iraq and Afghanistan in a survey of expectations for 2012, according to a WIN-Gallup poll.
Canada leads in happiness research
Ms. Senik analyzed a number of European polls and surveys to determine “differences in self-described happiness across countries of similar affluence.” Among her findings:
•The French unhappiness is mirrored “by a low level of trust in the market and in other people”;
•“French natives … are less satisfied with the state of the economy in the country, with the state of democracy, with the state of the education system”;
•The proportion of people agreeing that “for most people life is getting better” is particularly low in France.
One study asked participants to use an emotive scale (from happiness and enjoyment, to stress and anger) to answer questions like: “Did you smile a lot yesterday?”
“It turns out that France ranks first in terms of negative affects and last in terms of positive affects!” Ms. Senik wrote. “This is driven by the particularly high number of French respondents reporting feelings of anger and worry and the low frequency of feelings of enjoyment and happiness.”
With a generous welfare state, relative economic stability and 35-hour work weeks, what do the French have to complain about?
It’s not the language, as surveys show “francophone individuals are happier than English-speaking” people in Canada. Similar results were found in other multilingual nations such as Belgium and Switzerland.
Instead, Ms. Senik points to the “influence of psychological and cultural factors … where culture is understood as a real and not a purely nominal phenomenon.”
France ranked worse than Iraq and Afghanistan in a survey of expectations for 2012...
The study notes that French emigrants are less happy than the natives in the countries they move to, while the opposite is true for immigrants to France. There is also a correlation between the time spent living in France and an individual’s unhappiness.
“This suggests that there is something in the culture that makes French people miserable,” Ms. Senik wrote.
The socialization of children, especially in the public school system, is the most likely culprit, she claims.

“I think the role of the primary school system in France is partly to blame,” Ms. Senik told The Local online news site. “If unhappiness is partly due to someone’s mentality, then people are forming that negative mentality at an early age in primary schools.”
The tough grading system could be a factor, she said, since “it is very difficult to get good grades,” in French public schools.
Another factor could be the lost “grandeur of the old Francophone empire and influence France used to have in the world,” she said. “People might not always be conscious of this, but they are feeling it. It’s a feeling of decline in terms of international influence.”
Ms. Senik thinks many in France feel skeptical and uneasy about the “new world” order.
“There is something deep in the French ideology that makes them dislike market-based globilization.”
The solution could be to “learn more foreign languages,” and to travel more, Ms. Senik told The Local. This would help the French “fit more easily into this globalized world.”

Darkroom317 Loc: Mishawaka, IN

Ok, please explain Denmark, Norway and Sweden. They are social democracies and always top the happiness charts. However, keep in mind population differences as that system could never work here.

viscountdriver Loc: East Kent UK

I love going to France for the food, wine,scenery and weather but you may not get the courtesy you can find in other countries. It is something in the French nature that sometimes make them rude especially in Paris.The Gaellic shrug sums it up but don't be put off going, it is a great place for a holiday.

sarge69 Loc: Ft Myers, FL

Lived in Belgium for 6 years. Holidays in France were always to the south of Paris where people are very friendly. Paris sucks except for photo opportunities.

Sarge69

NOSLEEP Loc: Calgary

Who could know that. My guess would be other peoples money is not the secret to happiness. Perhaps good old fashioned earn it yourself plays a part...

docrob Loc: Durango, Colorado

my guess is that money is not a secret to happiness regardless of where it comes from

NOSLEEP Loc: Calgary

Perhaps. When I earn money from my own exertions.
Its not only satisfying it makes me happy... :mrgreen:

Frank T Loc: New York, NY

NoSleep, I think that extrapolating happiness from one factor is just silly.
Why not just pick another reason, like they hate the Eiffel Tower?

NOSLEEP Loc: Calgary

Now that is a good example of silly...

gasmandon Loc: Bentleyville, PA

"The French are among the unhappiest people on the planet". Because they're French!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

tinfoilpixels

hahahahaHAHAHA!! Love that one, hahahaha!

BW326 Loc: Boynton Beach, Florida

Or it could be as simple as a decade long downturn in the economy and worsening problems with unemployment...

French unemployment hits 16-year high
Crisis in France: Hollande Failing to Handle Unemployment

http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/french-president-hollande-failing-to-control-unemployment-crisis-a-891182.html

NOSLEEP Loc: Calgary

I would put some money on that statement...

RixPix Loc: Miami, Florida

True the number of people in the Norse regions is much lower than the U.S. The Swedish system is without a doubt the example of how to run a country. Progressive tax system but EVERY citizen gets an education and is free to pursue a career that fits their aptitude and desires. Can you imagine a college education without the crushing debt students incur here in this country. People in this country are quick to point out that they have freedom. But their freedom is an illusion perpetuated by politicians who are on the take from the banks. People in this country are financial slaves to the banks for the banks for not only own their homes but also 1/3 of their lifetime income for their education.

NOSLEEP Loc: Calgary

23 years to pay back a student loan of 26,400.00
What a pathetic and irresponsible example of entitlement mentality.
She should have her wages garnished...