The (un)Happy Planet Index

Ahh, happiness... as an idealist, I generally believe that this is what life is about. You would think, with all of our wealth, that the U.S. would be at the top of the world happiness index. However, it's way down at number 150 out of 178! From the site, it is calculated as follows:

The HPI incorporates three separate indicators: ecological footprint, life-satisfaction and life expectancy. The statistical calculations that underlie the HPI are quite complex. However conceptually, it is straight forward and intuitive:

HPI =	Life satisfaction x Life expectancy
	Ecological Footprint

The HPI reflects the average years of happy life produced by a given society, nation or group of nations, per unit of planetary resources consumed. Put another way, it represents the efficiency with which countries convert the earth’s finite resources into well-being experienced by their citizens.

This is a very interesting measure...