Jeffrey D. Sachs, “America’s Health Crisis and the Easterlin Paradox.” Chapter 7 in World Happiness Report 2018, available at https://worldhappiness.report/ed/2018/.
• In the US, “income per capita has more than doubled since 1972 while happiness… has remained roughly unchanged or has even declined.” (The Easterlin Paradox lives on in the US of A...)
• Some culprits: obesity, substance abuse (particularly with opioids), and depression
• Aggregate factors that influence cross-country SWB include: health; social support networks; personal freedom; social trust; and generosity
• The US displays declining life expectancy! Drug overdose deaths are a part of the story
• Some 38% of US adults are obese: added sugar and snacks are among the suspects. Corn subsidies promote the consumption of high-fructose corn syrup
• The obesity/depression circle: "Studies have found that obesity is a significant predictive factor for subsequent depression, while depression is a predictive factor for subsequent obesity [p. 151]."
• There's also a screen time/depression circle, while video games and social media provide new sources of addiction
• Mental illness and depression remain the major determinants of well-being. In the US, "There is significant evidence of a major, long-term, and continuing epidemic of clinical depression...[p. 153]."
• Behavioral Economics Outlines also has outlined a contribution by Professor Sachs to the 2019 World Happiness Report on addiction and unhappiness in the US. Incidentally, the 2021 World Happiness Report, co-edited and with other contributions by Professor Sachs, is available here. (All nine of the reports that have been released to date can be found here.)
