Happiness & Public Policy

Sorry to have gone missing since the release of my paper. I’ve been working on a number of shorter pieces, and on the new issue of Cato Unbound, on happiness. The discussion so far has been terrific. If you haven’t been following, here’s what we’ve had so far:

Lead Essay

• The Pursuit of Happiness in Perspective by Darrin M. McMahon

Reaction Essays

• Why Societies Should Pursue Happiness by Barry Schwartz
• The Data Tell a Different Story by Ruut Veenhoven
• The Quest for a Scientific Politics of Happiness by Will Wilkinson

The Conversation

• Virtue, Pleasure, and Paternalism in Happiness Policy by Darrin M. McMahon
• Reasoned Evaluation or Blind Faith? How Should States Determine Policy? by Barry Schwartz
• Happiness as an Input to Political Deliberation by Will Wilkinson
• Why We Think We’re Unhappy and What Not to Do About It by Will Wilkinson
• “Going to Hell” Is a Relative Matter by Barry Schwartz
• Policy Trade-offs, Justice, and Happiness by Darrin M. McMahon
• The Place of Happiness in Pluralism by Ruut Veenhoven
• What Public Policy Can Add to Happiness by Ruut Veenhoven
• Justice and Happiness and Growth, not Justice or Happiness or Growth by Barry Schwartz
• Good News about Depression and Suicide by Will Wilkinson

Check it out. The conversation will last through tomorrow.