 | The Politics of Happiness: What Government Can Learn from the New Research on Well-Being Subjects: Well-being -- United States; Well-being -- Research -- United States; Quality of life -- United States; Quality of life -- Research -- United States; Happiness -- United States; Happiness -- Research -- United States; United States -- Social policy -- 199; Delving into the burgeoning field of happiness research, former president of Harvard University Bok (The State of the Nation) sifts through scientific studies on how societal well-being indications can and should be used to shape social and political policy. Beginning with "happiness indexes," including philosopher Jeremy Bentham and his "felicific calculus," which would allow governments to quantify their citizenry's satisfaction, the book addresses the utility of economic growth (if income isn't tied to happiness, why do nations obsessively focus on increasing the GDP?), societal and economic inequality, family planning and divorce, and political reform, including curbs on campaign finance and lobbying. Bok's arguments on how good government, access to education, and adequate child care make for a pleasanter society are incontrovertible, and he initiates an important, jargon-free discussion of American public policy, especially when its aims contradict or diminish the public weal. (Mar.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved Derek Bok is the 300th Anniversary Research Professor at Harvard University. From 1971 to 1991, he served as Harvard's twenty-fifth president, and he served again as interim president from 2006 to 2007. He is the author of The State of the Nation and The Trouble with Government , and coauthor of The Shape of the River (Princeton). |
