Fiete expresses his joy
In the heart of Germany, the federal state of Schleswig-Holstein shares two seas with the world - the North Sea and the Baltic Sea. But what about the happiness of its residents? This question, it seems, is as important as the region's geographical features.
A recent observation suggests that Schleswig-Holsteiners might be quite happy, as they don't seem to bring down the average happiness of the region. This inference is based on the fact that their happiness is compared to the context of fish buns, an essential part of local culture and considered important in the context of happiness.
Interestingly, the question arises whether people without the luxury of seaside living may find it challenging to be as happy. However, this notion remains speculative, as it's not a direct factor in the happiness measurement.
Happiness is typically measured through population surveys, asking individuals to rate their own life satisfaction on a scale, such as the Cantril ladder scale. This evaluation is coupled with socio-economic and governance indicators to create a composite index of well-being.
While exact data distinguishing Schleswig-Holstein from the broader German statistics is less common, both Denmark and Germany participate in such surveys at the national level. The World Happiness Report, a standardized framework for assessing subjective well-being, ranks Denmark consistently among the top happiest countries globally. Germany also ranks relatively high but usually lower than Denmark.
It's unclear if Schleswig-Holsteiners come close to the Danish level of happiness, but the general methodology aligns with the World Happiness Report approach, utilizing extensive surveys and composite indices of well-being.
The speaker, a Schleswig-Holsteiner, does not express any doubts about their own happiness or that of their fellow residents. In fact, they are often referred to as the happiest Germans. This surprising finding has sparked a question: can happiness be discussed without mentioning fish buns?
[1] World Happiness Report (2021). https://worldhappiness.report/ [3] OECD Better Life Index (2021). https://data.oecd.org/wellbeing/how-is-life-in-your-country.htm
Despite the region's geographical features, such as the North Sea and Baltic Sea, the happiness of Schleswig-Holsteiners is not just associated with their seaside living. Their happiness, evaluated through surveys like the Cantril ladder scale and composite indices of well-being, is typically linked to lifestyle factors like food-and-drink, home-and-garden, and cultural traditions, such as fish buns.
