A Small Country that Fosters the Greatest Happiness for the Greatest Number of People - Term Paper Example

A Small Country That Fosters the Greatest Happiness for the Greatest Number of People + Submitted ASmall Country That Fosters the Greatest Happiness for the Greatest Number of People Abstract Happiness entails rising above the political agenda of a given country. It is a question of how well a country perform in fostering great happiness for a large number of its citizens and even the citizens of other states that are linked to it either directly or indirectly (Kahneman, Diener & Schwarz, 2003). The primary measure of the happiness of a country is the standards of living of the citizens of the country in question. This is narrowed down to cover aspects such as the ideologies, resources, healthcare, business practices, and family structure of individuals in a specific country among others (Nicolao, Irwin, & Goodman, 2009). It is explored as subjective enjoyment of a peoples own life as a whole. Regardless of the size and the population of a country, the happiness of a country can still be high, provided the factors that promote a country’s happiness are realized. For instance, Silva, the smallest country in Olympic continent, and with the highest population, is also the happiest country in that continent. This has been made achievable due to the robust qualities it possesses. Introduction The concept happiness is used in a number of ways. However, in the broadest sense, it is perceived as an umbrella expression that refers to all that is good. The term happiness, in this context, is commonly used interchangeably with concepts such as wellbeing, standard of living and quality of life (Taylor & Cui, 2011). A happy country can be determined by delineating some key qualities of life that depict a country’s happiness. The concepts of quality life and happiness in general can be classified into two major distinctions. These altogether, give a fourfold matrix. The first distinction is the one between outcomes and chances. This means the distinction between good life and the opportunities for this good life within a country. The other difference is that between the inner and the outer qualities of life, that is, between internal and external features. The quality of life in the first case is in the environment while in the second case, it is occurs in the individuals of a particular country (Taylor & Cui, 2011). The happiness of a country in terms of the livability of environment is expressed in terms of degradation of nature, pollution and global warming. Contemporarily, livability is typically associated with protection of the environment. Livability is also viewed and associated with things like traffic jams, sewer systems as well as ghetto formation. In this essence, the good standard of living is perceived as a product of human intervention (Lyubomirsky, King, & Diener, 2005). Society is also central to livability. Livability is hence linked to the quality of society at large. In this case, livability is not what is termed as happiness but rather, it is a condition for happiness of a country. It is also of great importance to note that not all environmental conditions are contributing to happiness. This study seeks to explore a small country named Silva, which promotes the greatest happiness for its vast population. The country is the smallest among the Olympic continent where she is located. Despite being the smallest country in the whole continent, and the most populated, she distinguishes herself as the happiest country. The interest of the public in the environmental affairs in Silva is far simpler compared to other countries in Olympic (Kahneman, Diener & Schwarz, 2003). The interest stems from a strong desire to develop family, personal as well as community life. These aspirations are neither erratic nor ephemeral. Rather they are evident in this country. They are first evident in the advanced consumer and industrial societies. The desires also express human needs and wants. Evident in this country are better housing, improved household furnishings, more pleasing recreation and leisure, better health as well as a larger sense of well being. All these have resulted in human progress in the country, a factor accepted as a key concern necessary to explain the country’s higher level of happiness (Kahneman, Diener & Schwarz, 2003). The state is gifted with a number of actors in the ecological politics. She boasts of scientists whoa are professionally trained, experts, planners, engineers, economists as well as well trained administrators and managers who perform a central role as far as public decision making is concerned. The idiosyncratic objectives and values, the outstanding political and social roles of these parties form part of the ecological drama. The experts stand apart from the sphere of politics. The managers and the empirical professionals take part in determining and applying facts regarding the objective world (Kahneman, Diener & Schwarz, 2003). The thought and ideology implicit in Silva is fully developed, as per the environmental objectives. These environmental affairs have incited more action and much focus reflection. It has for instance, resulted into the decentralization of institutions as well as their organization. These great ideas reflect deep commitments to technological and scientific activities. They also give the direction the activities ought to take. In addition, the ideas provide appropriate preference for the right modes of analyzing the economy. This in turn causes an end use consumption that is more in equilibrium with production. It also mirrors the realities of the developed consumer society. The country also derives happiness from brilliant ideas on the path of history which identify innovation as well as response to innovation as essential to the demographic, social and economic changes in Silva. In addition, the geographical location of this country gives it an upper hand in promoting happiness to her large population (Kahneman, Diener & Schwarz, 2003). The country is located in the fertile highlands of the Olympic continent. It experiences a cool and wet environment with a moderate temperature that is conducive for plant growth and survival. In terms of entertainment, Silva, the most heavily populated country in Olympic, is gifted with amazing tourist attraction sites which also form the basis of entertainment to the citizens of this country. These sites are simply stunning and extraordinary. The country’s lure for entertainment and tourists is based not only on shopping, but also on its vast possession of other ancient and modern attractions, from magnificent beaches, to lavish hotels and resorts. The country also boasts of an absolute multitude of tourist hot spots and events. The splendor of The Mall Silva for instance, can merely be matched by very few places in Olympic (Kahneman, Diener & Schwarz, 2003). It is in fact considered by a number of people as one of the best tourist destinations in the whole continent. It offers wonderful mix of world-class shopping, entertainment, dining in addition to leisure attractions, all intended to modernize the concept of the shopping malls industry. It has great and exclusive features that render it the top tourist destination in Olympic as a continent. for instance, a 9 Million sq ft of main shopping space with over 1200 stores, Oasis Fountain Waterfall, An Olympic-size Ice Rink, Gold Souk having 220 retailers, SEGA Republic and more than one hundred restaurants and cafes among other splendid things . The Silva Mall therefore serves as a tourist-puller for Silva tourism very much such that no visit to Silva can ever be affirmed complete without a trip to the eminent Silva Mall (Bozionelos, & Nikolaou, 2010). Majority of capitals and other major cities posses direct flights to Silva. over one hundred and twenty airlines operate to and from Silva International Airport and extend to more than two hundred and sixty destinations, rendering it one of the busiest worldwide. Silva is also endowed with a remarkable network of first-class roads which link major towns and villages, including a multi-lane super-highway connecting Silva and Rita. In sports, the country boasts of hosting a number of international championships (Bozionelos, & Nikolaou, 2010). These include the Silva international rally, the standard chartered Silva marathon, and the Silva classic golf championship, the Silva world cup which is the richest horse race in the world and Barclays Silva tennis for both men and women. For most inhabitants and visitors of Silva, sight seeing usually becomes second after shopping as forms of entertainment. There are spectacular aspects of Silva’s old culture in places around the creek, which splits the country into two halves, Bur Silva and Tina. The buildings lining the Bur Silva side of the Creek offers the main flavor of the old Silva. Birthright Village provides a simulacrum of the old city (Bozionelos, & Nikolaou, 2010). The adjacent Diving Village gives exhibits on pearl diving and fishing. They also form part of an ambitious plan to turn the whole area into a cultural city, recreating life in Silva as it was in the past. Attractions include the Silva Museum situated in the restored Bill Fort, which was erected around 1799; Modern House and the Birthright Village of Holla, located in the heart of the rocky Holla Mountains. The Birthright village consists of 30 buildings, each differing in the interior layout, size as well as in the building materials used (Nicolao, Irwin, & Goodman, 2009). A number of international indicators have revealed that the accelerated growth and development of Silva as a country is as a result of numerous and well developed learning institutions as well as appropriate system of education. The number of students admitted in higher learning institutions such as colleges and universities rapidly increases every year (Nicolao, Irwin, & Goodman, 2009). The country therefore has a far broader educational base compared to other countries in the entire continent. This good education system is a fundamental prerequisite for the technological, economic and social transformation for this country (Bozionelos, & Nikolaou, 2010). The education programmes in this country has none or low level of imitation and also in the organization. The country is also regarded as the happiest in the entire continent since there is no element of brain drain. This is as a result of the developed research activities and the fact that the country offers best job opportunities that hinders its educated population from being exported to offer labor in other countries (Nicolao, Irwin, & Goodman, 2009). These productive citizens hence directly give back to their own country, thereby improving the entire economy of the country. The growth, quality and structure of the educational activities in this country are more suited to the active technological, social and economic changes in the country (Taylor & Cui, 2011). The system of education in Silva is also able to guarantee interdisciplinary activities, ongoing innovations in programmes as well as methods of work as per the development of indigenous practices and science (Nicolao, Irwin, & Goodman, 2009). The country’s educational institutions constantly cooperates with the rest of the countries through exchange of experience, joint research, exchange of students and teachers, as well as other ways of cooperation that promote the idea of contemporary university tailored towards the dynamic development requirements of the country, which strives to earn respect of her cultural identity (Bozionelos, & Nikolaou, 2010). Health care in Silva is provided by various distinct organizations. Majority of the healthcare facilities are operated and owned by the private sector businesses (Nicolao, Irwin, & Goodman, 2009). About 60% of these health centers are non profit. About 20 % on the other hand, are for profit, and 20 % are owned by the government (Taylor & Cui, 2011). The country therefore has a robust system of healthcare in which about 70 % of the spending on healthcare provision is obtained from various organizations for free. Most of the citizens have medical insurance covers. For employees in the public sector, health insurance is basically provided by the government. Due to this improved healthcare in this country, there is low mortality rate (Bozionelos, & Nikolaou, 2010). These health centers are not only accessible but also efficient. The country is well endowed with well trained and experienced doctors who give quality medication. In addition, the hospitals are cost effective and hence affordable to majority of the citizens. The production and manufacture of pharmaceuticals as well as other medical equipment is done by the private companies. However, the development and research on medical devices and other pharmaceuticals is conducted not only by the private funding, but also by the public sources of funding (Bozionelos, & Nikolaou, 2010). Healthcare spending in Silva is described as being the least costly in comparison to other countries. Despite the low cost of healthcare, the quality of the healthcare is the highest overall. The family structure in Silva consists of a support system that consist of two individuals, male and female, who give care and stability to their biological children (Nicolao, Irwin, & Goodman, 2009). However, besides the nuclear family that consists of father, mother and children, other forms of families have become typical. The family is formed at birth and ties are established across generations. This created generation consists of grandparents, aunts, cousins and uncles. This extended family plays a significant role of holding economic and emotional functions to the nuclear family. Practices such as divorce and teenage pregnancies are discouraged in this country. Same sex marriage and child adoption are also not encouraged (Taylor & Cui, 2011). The nuclear family is comprised of very few children who are easy to raise and to educate. In this country, the extended family sometimes comes to stay with the nuclear family or to fill a gap left by a member of the nuclear family. Historically, the family structure of Silva comprised of grandmothers and their children, particularly daughters, who brought up their own children together as they share the responsibilities for child care (Nicolao, Irwin, & Goodman, 2009). The mothers are majorly concerned with raising the children while the fathers provide for the family financially. This division of labor and specialization makes the parents more responsible hence bringing about a happy family and consequently a happy state. The country also is endowed with a diversity of religious practices and beliefs. Several religious faiths mutually flourish in Silva (Nicolao, Irwin, & Goodman, 2009). These diversified forms of religion play a very key role in the lives of the citizens of this country. Majority of Silvians are Christians. A small percentage however, professes that they attend different churches. This group may be considered unaffiliated or protestants. About 26% claim they belong to the Catholic Church. Collectively, Islam, Judaism and Buddhism form about 4 percent (Taylor & Cui, 2011). The presence of diversified forms of religion is a clear indication of exercising the freedom of religion in the country. This practice therefore contributes in fostering national unity and peace. It also promotes love among the citizens by teaching on the need to embrace individual differences and the values of respecting other peoples’ cultures. This consequently, fosters the country’s happiness. Religion in Silva   Christianity (76%)   Other Religions (4%)   Non-Religious (15%)   Dont know/Not Stated (5%) The business practice in Silva is also a pertinent factor in promotion of happiness in the country. Silva prides itself on its robust individualism (Nicolao, Irwin, & Goodman, 2009). Corporate or companies are structured and organized in various distinctive styles as per the industry, the history of the company, and the present leaders of the corporate. In this country, business relationships are created between companies and not people. Also, an important factor for economic growth, the Silvians engage in business where they are assured of the best deal and service. To them, developing a personal relationship before establishing a sustainable and flourishing business is not important. They also accord great importance to business cards (Taylor & Cui, 2011). They perceive the cards as sources of upcoming information. For this reason, they tend to casually exchange the cards. The fact that there is no ritual set in order to exchange the business cards is a justification for a good business relationship between the parties involved. This brotherly partnership and relationship amount to the entire happiness of the country (Nicolao, Irwin, & Goodman, 2009). These citizens also fancy directness in communication. When they say no, they precisely mean that. Similarly, they mean yes when they say yes. Incase they fail to understand something; they ask a lot of questions regarding the same. They are also not ashamed of admitting whatever they are not aware of (Taylor & Cui, 2011). They are never comfortable with silence. They therefore strive to avoid silence whenever they are in a business or a social meeting. Ethics in business is highly adhered to, a reason why the country has a multitude of business partners, and relates well with all of them. This consequently fosters the general happiness of a country regardless of the size or the population of the country. Conclusion A country may promote its happiness through exercising at different levels, the various national interests. This study has provided vast information on the happiest country in Olympic continent by exploring the activities that make the country the happiest among others. The study has also explicitly pointed out that both societal and personal decisions should be grounded on the thought of fostering greatest happiness for the largest number of people achievable, particularly, the entire country. Reference Bozionelos, N., & Nikolaou, I. (2010). Happiness around the world: is there more to it than money? Academy of Management Perspectives, 24(4), 96-98. Retrieved from EBSCOhost. - See more at: http://www.youhavegotthepower.com/is-there-a-correlation-between-money-happiness-if-so-which-one#sthash.NRasqbbn.dpuf Kahneman, D., Diener, E., & Schwarz, N. (Eds.). (2003). Well-being: Foundations of hedonic psychology. Russell Sage Foundation. Lyubomirsky, S., King, L., & Diener, E. (2005). The benefits of frequent positive affect: does happiness lead to success?, Psychological Bulletin, 131 (6), 803-55. Retrieved from EBSCOhost - See more at: http://www.youhavegotthepower.com/is-there acorrelation-between-money-happiness-if-so-which-one#sthash.NRasqbbn.dpuf Nicolao, L., Irwin, J. R., & Goodman, J. K. (2009). Happiness for Sale: Do Experiential Purchases Make Consumers Happier than Material Purchases? Journal of Consumer Research, 36(2), 188-198. Retrieved from EBSCOhost. - See more at: http://www.youhavegotthepower.com/is-there-a-correlation-between-money-happiness-if-so-which-one#sthash.NRasqbbn.dpuf Taylor, R. D., & Cui, J. (2011). Does Happiness Matter? What do We Want from the National Broadband Plan And How Will We Know if We Get It? Washington, DC. Read More