The World Happiness Report, prepared every year by the UN on the occasion of the World Day of Happiness, which is celebrated on March 20 and referred to the annual ranking of the countries most "happy" on the planet, sees, even with some changes in positions, essentially unchanged first ten places, occupied by the same countries since the last two editions of the Report in question.
Speaking of changes, the most significant happens at the head of the special ranking.
In first place this year is Finland that takes the place of Norway, queen of the last edition and relegated to the second position today.
In third place we find Denmark, followed by Iceland, Switzerland and Holland.
We need to get to seventh place to find the first non-European ranking country, it's Canada.
The United States, despite the economic growth of the last period, lost four positions, slipping from 14º to 18º place.
Our Italy takes a small step forward and moves from 48º to 47º place, a result very disappointing compared to those obtained in the pre-crisis period faced by our country between the 2008 and 2010.
The most unfortunate state is Burundi, but in Rwanda, Yemen, Tanzania, South Sudan and Central African Republic one lives even worse than in Syria, torn apart by a terrible war for years.
Togo is the biggest leap. The rear end of the last edition manages to climb in fact beautiful 17 positions.
But what is it that helps to form this coveted classification of living well?
Let's start by saying that in this case the so-called "magnifying glass" is placed on 156 states of the world, and more specifically we measure first of all their classic factors of well-being, such as income, health, education, work, life expectancy and social status, but also those related to corruption, freedom, trust in institutions and inclusion.
In this regard, Meik Wiking, director of the Happiness Research Institute in Copenhagen, an independent research institute that studies the causes of human happiness, working to improve the living conditions of all citizens, comments on the excellent result obtained by Finland, considered by its citizens a stable, secure and well-governed country: "The highest vote for Finland is significant. The per capita GDP in Finland is lower than in neighboring Nordic countries and is much lower than in the US "he adds:" The Finns are good at converting wealth into well-being. In the Nordic countries the highest taxes in the world are paid but there is a lot of consensus in paying them because they are perceived as an investment in the quality of life of everyone ".
Returning to Italy, one factor is evident that makes our thoughts happy. The Belpaese shines for life expectancy, on average, from 70 years recorded in 2000, 72,8 2015 years, namely the third best behind Japan and Iceland.
However, from what was published in the UN document, "The four countries most affected by the crisis, Greece, Italy, Spain and Portugal have long been special", but of these only Lisbon shows "a small growth".
Finally, wealth does not seem to "fully cheer" the US increasingly afflicted apparently by obesity, depression and drug abuse as well as a concrete and widespread perception, by the population, of increasing corruption, both public and private. , with the consequent loss of trust in the institutions.
GB
Photo: NBC News
