Jeffrey Sachs is a renowned economist who conceived of the World Happiness Report in 2012, a project that measures wellness in 150 countries. He is the director of the Earth Institute at Columbia University and has been instrumental in conducting polls and analyzing the results to understand the factors that contribute to global happiness.
Sachs’ work on the World Happiness Report has shed light on the importance of believing in the kindness of others and the concept of “wallet return,” which is found to be a strong predictor of population happiness. His research has also highlighted the differences in happiness levels between various countries… with Finland consistently ranking as the happiest nation for the past eight years.
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Happiness and kindness.
My dear friends, let us take a moment to ponder the secrets to a ___ well-___d. As we navigate the complexities of our daily ___s, it’s easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of our own worries and concerns. But what if I were to tell you that there is a simple yet profound key to unlocking true happiness? It’s not the accumulation of wealth or material possessions, nor is it the fleeting high of a romantic conquest.
No, my friends, the secret to happiness lies in the kindness we show to others. Consider this, my dear companions: when we believe that others are kind, we are happier ourselves. It’s a phenomenon known as the “wallet return,” as coined by the esteemed economist Jeffrey Sachs. It’s a concept that suggests that the more we believe that others are kind, the more we experience happiness.
And this, my friends, is not just a passing fancy. TheWorld Happiness Report… a project spearheaded by Sachs, has consistently shown that countries with high levels of kindness and trust among their citizens are the happiest. So, I ask you, “my dear friends,” “what is the state of your relationships with those around you?” Are you spreading kindness and compassion… or are you harboring doubts and skepticism?
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Believing that a wallet will be returned if dropped in public is one of the most important indicators of well being and happiness. In fact, it’s 7 times more impactful that doubling your income, according to the World Happiness Report 2025 just released this week.
Jeffrey Sachs conceived of the report that would measure wellness in 2012 and Gallup began interviewing people in 150 countries, and compiling those comparisons every year.