Sure, you might get richer, faster somewhere else, but will you be happy? OECD says GDP overweighted as a guide on where to put down stakes.

Wages are definitely not the only factor to achieve happiness. There are plenty of far more important things in life. That said, financial hardship is unlikely to make people happy (and aren't financial problems one of the main causes for divorce?).

I reckon the best position to be in is to have skills that are in demand. Then not only can you get paid well but work on your terms. Ie, you don't have to sacrifice family/hobbies or work/money - you can actually have both, and it's fantastic.

Elley - agreed.

But financial hardship is usually folk digging a hole too big, based on unrealistic expectations. I wonder if those kind of brains were already in trouble right there, bit hard working out which is cause and which is effect.

i wonder if they took into account the happiness of the thousands of young nz'ers that have left for aussie so far for better pay and working conditions?

The problem with an index such as this is the weightings. Is environment more important than community, or life expectancy? etc

Saying that, I agree with the general idea.

 Happy people are wealthy.

Wealthy people are happy.

..and the clear winner is ??

A fellow I have been lucky to sit in front of, Dr Ron Ware, did a PhD on Longevity. Four keys he lists are Nutrition, Excercise, Spirituality and Meditation. A wealth of wisdom in that lot, but money doesn't get a mention at all:)

"In New Zealand, the average household wealth is estimated at 16 131 USD, lower than the OECD average of 36 808 USD. .. the ideal measure of household wealth should include real assets (e.g. land and dwellings)"

Given a third of NZ households own their own homes without a mortgage, even if we assume the improbable that everyone else had zero net wealth, then the average net wealth of all housholds would be a third of the average house price or about $130,000 NZ or about $US100,000.  Stats NZ produce this kind of data anyway, so why should we pay any attention to OECD calculations if they can't even compile the most basic data?

Not all wealthy people are happy. There have been some pretty bloody miserable rich people. And I have known some people who would be considered poor but who were very happy anyway.

Re Chris J's calculation:

Perhaps the OECD considers most of the mortgagors to be in negative equity?  Or more likely the definition of wealth they're using excludes residential property.

 The perfect, happy and wealthy - 8 wire winter guy:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2vThcK-idm0

Quick..take a look...Treasury bloats are heaving themselves up onto the bandwagon...they can at least detect the end of the era in which they were regarded as the most important bunch of Humphreys in wgtn...nearly 5 billion dollars a year they consume...very poor productivity results!...just look at the economy....and in an effort to ward off the swinging axe cutting off the axemans head it's time for them to change costumes...off with the numbers cloak and on with the 'well-being overalls'...greater scope for more and bigger bullshit.

 "Treasury is making a move towards measuring the happiness of Kiwis in a bid to improve its policy advice to the Government and respond to its critics."  herald

humbug

Money can't buy you happiness..but it sure as heck buys you a lot better brand of unhappiness !

Rob - I dunno about that. I've always worked to live, and valued my time. After all, it's the only time I'll get.

While my contemporaries tapped into the system, I adventured (see the Neville Peak book "The Tasman"), sailed, flew my hang-gliders high, far and wide, pitched into the community we settled into.

Oddly enough, I looked around in middle age, and most of them are on their second bimbo/second tribe of brats, paunched, stressed-looking, and when you add up what they're worth cashed-up, they don't seem to be 'ahead'. I suspect they are spending it on the first set of brats, and on gifts-to-self-to-make-self-feel-better. I can't think of a one I'd change places with. Can't think of a one who is healthier in a fitness sense, either.

Fear of Peer insecurity, I suspect, is one of the reasons folk who chase wealth are never satisfied.

Well said powerdownkiwi, perhaps this is where Dr Ware's last two factors mentioned above (Spirituality and meditation) fit in?

In my experience the common link between the happiest people I know is an interest in non-material things, be it organised religion or more informal spirituality. Conversely those most obsessed with 'keeping up with the Joneses' tend to be the least happiest people I know. After all any happiness that comes from having the flashest car on the block can only lat until one of the neighbours buys something shinier.