Happiest Countries in the World

You may think that the happiest place in the world is a sun drenched tropical island or a country rolling in riches but the data reveals that neither of those things are true.

Many of the top happiest or most content countries in the world are located in cold locales and aren't rolling in riches (with the exception of a few):

1. Denmark
2. Finland
3. The Netherlands
4. Sweden
5. Ireland
6. New Zealand
7. Switzerland
8. Canada
9. Norway
10. Belgium

*Notice the United States in not in the top ten, that should says something about our young country.

Here's a map of most satisfied countries on a global scale:
Many of the happiest countries also have a high peace index:
An in depth look at why the top ten countries hold the rankings they do and possible ways the average and below average countries can improve their rankings.

Different Solutions for Global Climate Change

It's no secret that global climate change has become a major environmental, political, and economic in recent years but what most people don't agree on is how exactly to solve the issue of global climate change.

Below are some videos purposing various solutions to the issue of climate change.

First a quick overview of climate change from Al Gore's movie An Inconvenient Truth


Taxing CO2 Emissions


World leaders gather at Davos to address how to meet initiatives from Copenhagen (Davos 2009 Conference)

Geography of the Recessions and Recessionomics

Below is a timelapse video of an unemployment map according to geography from March 2007- October 2009. The map shows data that is in opposition to what politicians have been telling us for the latter part of this year.

Fortunately, even though the unemployment rate is still increasing the recession may not last as long as some fear.

It may be a while before the recession is over but thankfully the American economy may recover more quickly than anticipated, granted the creation of new jobs which are unable to be outsourced.


Recession to Last 2 or 3 years?



How long it will really last? No one knows for sure.

Fair Use of Online Content Online and the Law

Another quintessential speech from TED. Larry Lessig, the Nets most celebrated lawyer, cites John Philip Sousa, celestial copyrights and the "ASCAP cartel" in his argument for reviving our creative culture.

About the Project

This blog is dedicated to tracking and investigating the current quality of life in various countries around the world by seeking answers in education, environment, business, economics and culture.

Hopefully a greater understanding of quality of life and what it really means on a global scale will emerge as a result of this research.

Where Are the Jobs in America?

According to the job search site Indeed Washington DC is the top place with 148 jobs per capita and is the top city in America you are most likely to find employment in during the third quarter of 2009.

Coming in second are Baltimore, MD and San Jose, CA. You can see the rankings at Indeed Job Trends map.

The bigger the dot the more jobs per capita or in other world the bigger the dots the more job posting Indeed has indexed for those cities. Though, with all the competition for just one job these days there will still be a rising rates of unemployment and it poses a major threat to further destabilizing the economy.

More analysis is need to see what type of jobs are being posted in Washington DC, San Jose, and Baltimore and how many people are hired within those industries on a monthly basis.

Is There an Alternative to GDP?

Gross Domestic Product, which measures the value of goods and services produced or provided in any given year, is the best-recognized measure of economic performance in the world. For many, a rise in economic growth - as measured by GDP is shorthand for a rise in living standards and an increase in well-being.

However, GDP has severe limitations as a human development indicator, as even one of the founders of the GDP concept Nobel Prize winning economist Simon Kuznets realized.

Do Schools Kill Creativity?

Sir Ken Robinson makes an entertaining and profound and insightful case for creating an education system that nurtures (rather than undermines) creativity. http://www.ted.com

Barry Schwartz On Our Loss of Wisdom

http://www.ted.com Barry Schwartz makes a passionate call for practical wisdom as an antidote to a society gone mad with bureaucracy. He argues powerfully that rules often fail us, incentives often backfire, and practical, everyday wisdom will help rebuild our world.