Post: #1

http://www.theguardian.com/world/shortcu...ke-denmark

World’s happiest country: how did Panama overtake Denmark?

Where is the world’s happiest place? For years we have been told it is the dark, cold, but seriously egalitarian Scandinavia – with Denmark heading the majority of lists of our most contented countries. But suddenly there is a new leader in the satisfaction stakes: Panama.

A poll by Gallup and Healthways Global reports that the Central American country now has the most positive population, after 133,000 people from 135 countries were asked to rate their wellbeing in five categories: purpose, social, financial, community and physical.

The Central American country topped four of the categories, with neighbour Costa Rica closely following as the second happiest country. Denmark, for once, came a mournful third. So what makes people in Panama so cheery?

Cultural attache for Panama, Laura Montenegro, thinks it is down to the fact the country has a thriving economy and has maintained its traditional values. “Family bonds are very strong here, and on Sundays everyone still gets together,” she says. “So even when people are struggling they don’t feel alone. We have a very beautiful landscape too and even in Panama city you never feel too far from nature. We have a booming economy and financial stability. When the global financial crisis hit, Panama came out of it even better than before, because our banks had been very cautious.”

But what of the Danes? We have heard much about their society’s strengths – from state-subsidised childcare to having one of the smallest wealth gaps in the world. Yet despite this, younger Danes are less likely than their older countrymen to report themselves as “thriving”.

Guardian journalist and author of How to be Danish Patrick Kingsley thinks an increased sense of individuality among the young might be why the country is losing its happy crown.

“The Danes aren’t exactly all grinning from ear to ear ... but they’re more contented than most. When Danes leave home in the morning, they don’t see many people who are markedly better off than themselves – and this breeds a sense of social solidarity, and by extension, contentedness.

“But the reason why so many Danish brands – from The Killing to Noma to the architect Bjarke Ingels – have recently made it big outside Denmark is because a younger generation of Danes are doing things differently. Perhaps this increased individuality, coupled with uncertainty about the future of Denmark’s welfare state, has threatened the traditional Danish formula for contentedness.”

Of course, they are still ahead of glum Great Britain, which is 76th on the list – mostly because we don’t like our jobs. “Though Britons are strong in financial wellbeing, they are much weaker in purpose wellbeing, suggesting that many workers do not enjoy what they do each day,” the report says.

But the situation is not hopeless. Now the UK’s economy is improving, employers might be more inclined to ensure staff are happy at work. Phew!

Post: #2

(09-19-2014 09:34 AM)JayMillz Wrote:  http://www.theguardian.com/world/shortcu...ke-denmark

World’s happiest country: how did Panama overtake Denmark?

Where is the world’s happiest place? For years we have been told it is the dark, cold, but seriously egalitarian Scandinavia – with Denmark heading the majority of lists of our most contented countries. But suddenly there is a new leader in the satisfaction stakes: Panama.

A poll by Gallup and Healthways Global reports that the Central American country now has the most positive population, after 133,000 people from 135 countries were asked to rate their wellbeing in five categories: purpose, social, financial, community and physical.

The Central American country topped four of the categories, with neighbour Costa Rica closely following as the second happiest country. Denmark, for once, came a mournful third. So what makes people in Panama so cheery?

Cultural attache for Panama, Laura Montenegro, thinks it is down to the fact the country has a thriving economy and has maintained its traditional values. “Family bonds are very strong here, and on Sundays everyone still gets together,” she says. “So even when people are struggling they don’t feel alone. We have a very beautiful landscape too and even in Panama city you never feel too far from nature. We have a booming economy and financial stability. When the global financial crisis hit, Panama came out of it even better than before, because our banks had been very cautious.”

But what of the Danes? We have heard much about their society’s strengths – from state-subsidised childcare to having one of the smallest wealth gaps in the world. Yet despite this, younger Danes are less likely than their older countrymen to report themselves as “thriving”.

Guardian journalist and author of How to be Danish Patrick Kingsley thinks an increased sense of individuality among the young might be why the country is losing its happy crown.

“The Danes aren’t exactly all grinning from ear to ear ... but they’re more contented than most. When Danes leave home in the morning, they don’t see many people who are markedly better off than themselves – and this breeds a sense of social solidarity, and by extension, contentedness.

“But the reason why so many Danish brands – from The Killing to Noma to the architect Bjarke Ingels – have recently made it big outside Denmark is because a younger generation of Danes are doing things differently. Perhaps this increased individuality, coupled with uncertainty about the future of Denmark’s welfare state, has threatened the traditional Danish formula for contentedness.”

Of course, they are still ahead of glum Great Britain, which is 76th on the list – mostly because we don’t like our jobs. “Though Britons are strong in financial wellbeing, they are much weaker in purpose wellbeing, suggesting that many workers do not enjoy what they do each day,” the report says.

But the situation is not hopeless. Now the UK’s economy is improving, employers might be more inclined to ensure staff are happy at work. Phew!

I'm in Panama City right now and Panamanians definitely do not strike me as being the happiest people I've encountered. I've spent a few months here off and on and I really hate it here. It's dirty, polluted, overpriced and just kind of generally sucks. That's just my two cents.

Post: #3

(09-19-2014 12:10 PM)nomadiam Wrote:  

(09-19-2014 09:34 AM)JayMillz Wrote:  http://www.theguardian.com/world/shortcu...ke-denmark

World’s happiest country: how did Panama overtake Denmark?

Where is the world’s happiest place? For years we have been told it is the dark, cold, but seriously egalitarian Scandinavia – with Denmark heading the majority of lists of our most contented countries. But suddenly there is a new leader in the satisfaction stakes: Panama.

A poll by Gallup and Healthways Global reports that the Central American country now has the most positive population, after 133,000 people from 135 countries were asked to rate their wellbeing in five categories: purpose, social, financial, community and physical.

The Central American country topped four of the categories, with neighbour Costa Rica closely following as the second happiest country. Denmark, for once, came a mournful third. So what makes people in Panama so cheery?

Cultural attache for Panama, Laura Montenegro, thinks it is down to the fact the country has a thriving economy and has maintained its traditional values. “Family bonds are very strong here, and on Sundays everyone still gets together,” she says. “So even when people are struggling they don’t feel alone. We have a very beautiful landscape too and even in Panama city you never feel too far from nature. We have a booming economy and financial stability. When the global financial crisis hit, Panama came out of it even better than before, because our banks had been very cautious.”

But what of the Danes? We have heard much about their society’s strengths – from state-subsidised childcare to having one of the smallest wealth gaps in the world. Yet despite this, younger Danes are less likely than their older countrymen to report themselves as “thriving”.

Guardian journalist and author of How to be Danish Patrick Kingsley thinks an increased sense of individuality among the young might be why the country is losing its happy crown.

“The Danes aren’t exactly all grinning from ear to ear ... but they’re more contented than most. When Danes leave home in the morning, they don’t see many people who are markedly better off than themselves – and this breeds a sense of social solidarity, and by extension, contentedness.

“But the reason why so many Danish brands – from The Killing to Noma to the architect Bjarke Ingels – have recently made it big outside Denmark is because a younger generation of Danes are doing things differently. Perhaps this increased individuality, coupled with uncertainty about the future of Denmark’s welfare state, has threatened the traditional Danish formula for contentedness.”

Of course, they are still ahead of glum Great Britain, which is 76th on the list – mostly because we don’t like our jobs. “Though Britons are strong in financial wellbeing, they are much weaker in purpose wellbeing, suggesting that many workers do not enjoy what they do each day,” the report says.

But the situation is not hopeless. Now the UK’s economy is improving, employers might be more inclined to ensure staff are happy at work. Phew!

I'm in Panama City right now and Panamanians definitely do not strike me as being the happiest people I've encountered. I've spent a few months here off and on and I really hate it here. It's dirty, polluted, overpriced and just kind of generally sucks. That's just my two cents.

I was not impressed with Panama City either. I posted a trip report about a year ago in which I advised to hit up countries in South America instead. It is a decent place for a layover if flying on Copa to South America, but I wouldn't invest much time here.

Brazilians and Colombians seem a hell of a lot happier than Panamanians.

Post: #4

Yes I detest Panama too. An americanized version of Colombia with unfriendly people, mediocre women and higher prices. It is what I hope Colombia doesn't turn into in 20 years.

Post: #5

(09-19-2014 12:18 PM)chochemonger1 Wrote:  Yes I detest Panama too. An americanized version of Colombia with unfriendly people, mediocre women and higher prices. It is what I hope Colombia doesn't turn into in 20 years.

I spent about twelve hours in Panama City in 2009. That was more than enough.

Post: #6

Lol, Colombia has cuter girls and is much more fun, but Panama is a way better place to make money.

There's a reason there are a ton of Colombians moving to Peru and Panama now, and the answer is more opportunity. Panama has more skilled jobs available than there are skilled Panamanians to fill them.

Just look at GDP per capita - I'm sure Panama is miles ahead of Colombia. Plus, since when is Panama more expensive than Colombia? The only thing that is more expensive in my head is taxis in PTY.

Post: #7

Why does every thread about Latin America turn into a comparison between X and Colombia?

Post: #8

(09-19-2014 05:43 PM)Americas Wrote:  Why does every thread about Latin America turn into a comparison between X and Colombia?

Everybody's favourite place. I'm Colombian and I'll admit, Panama is what Colombia should be if it were not full of mentally sick people.

Post: #9

I am Panama right now (and have been for the last 3 months +).

Have not noticed any particularly high level of happiness here.

Panamanian people don't even smile much.

Post: #10

(09-20-2014 09:43 AM)JJ Roberts Wrote:  I am Panama right now (and have been for the last 3 months +).

Have not noticed any particularly high level of happiness here.

Panamanian people don't even smile much.

Where have you been where you find the people to be rather happy? I found Brits to be one of the most miserable bunch I ever lived amongst in my life.

Post: #11

(09-20-2014 09:55 AM)Moma Wrote:  

(09-20-2014 09:43 AM)JJ Roberts Wrote:  I am Panama right now (and have been for the last 3 months +).

Have not noticed any particularly high level of happiness here.

Panamanian people don't even smile much.

Where have you been where you find the people to be rather happy? I found Brits to be one of the most miserable bunch I ever lived amongst in my life.

Only in the southern part. I am from the north.

Even northern English talk about how miserable the southern English are.

As for place where people are happier than Panama? There's lots. How about Philippines?

Post: #12

I imagine one reason Panama ranked high is cause it is relatively well developed for a Latin American country. It has decent healthcare, probably high life expectancy, decent education system, etc.

And in terms of Panama City, by Latin American capital standards it is not a bad place. I could actually imagine living there, which is not the case for places like Lima or Managua or Caracas.

Post: #13

(09-21-2014 10:42 AM)nomadicdude Wrote:  I imagine one reason Panama ranked high is cause it is relatively well developed for a Latin American country. It has decent healthcare, probably high life expectancy, decent education system, etc.

And in terms of Panama City, by Latin American capital standards it is not a bad place. I could actually imagine living there, which is not the case for places like Lima or Managua or Caracas.

In Panama City, I felt like I was in the US even paying in dollars. It provides Latin American experience with the feel of the US. I don not recommend it for women.

Post: #14

I hate these polls, how can you measure happiness.

Post: #15

I do think location matters. Panama is doing better than its neighbors I gather and relative wellbeing does affect happiness.