How global indices miss India’s chuckle

It’s that delightful time of the year again when international organisations and self-proclaimed think tanks emerge from their slumber to bless us mere mortals with yet another round of indices showcasing India’s impeccable talent for bottom-tier rankings. Whether it’s the democracy index by V-Dem or the World Happiness Index whose rankings were released on 20th March, India never fails to disappoint by securing its place at the nadir.

According to these insights, Indians are apparently among the most unhappy souls on this planet, with India proudly flaunting its 126th position out of 143 countries. But fret not, for China, in all its authoritarian glory, graciously ranks 64th, proving that happiness is indeed a relative concept. Even amidst the chaos of war-torn nations like Russia (72) and Ukraine (105), where devastation reigns supreme, their citizens manage to crack a smile more often than us Indians.

And let’s not forget the joyous inhabitants of Iraq (92) and the “State of Palestine” (103), who, despite their ongoing humanitarian crises, seem to have found the silver lining in their strife. And how could we overlook Pakistan (108), with its delightful blend of political turmoil, economic hardship and public distrust, yet still managing to outshine us in the happiness department? Bravo, dear India, for consistently proving that when it comes to rankings, we excel at being at the bottom of the barrel.

Jokes apart, there are multiple issues with the idea of measuring happiness. Happiness is a multifaceted concept that varies greatly among individuals and cultures, making it inherently subjective and difficult to define universally. Philosophical views range from hedonistic perspectives, which associate happiness with pleasure maximisation, to eudaimonic views, focusing on fulfilling one’s potential and living virtuously. The challenge in measuring happiness lies in its subjective nature; traditional metrics like income or education level may not capture an individual’s well-being accurately. Psychological scales, while useful, can be influenced by personal biases, cultural influences, and transient emotional states, illustrating the complexity of quantifying happiness.

Cross-country analysis of happiness faces additional hurdles due to cultural differences. What one culture considers a source of happiness might not hold the same value in another, with Western societies often prioritizing individual achievement and Eastern cultures emphasising community and familial bonds. These cultural disparities, combined with varying economic, social, and political contexts, complicate the task of creating standardised measurements for happiness across nations.

To assess subjective well-being accurately, especially in a country as vast and diverse as India, it is imperative to consider the psychological and methodological nuances that influence data collection and interpretation. The principal source of data for the World Happiness Report is Gallup World Poll. The sample size of 1,000 respondents, typically used in the Gallup World Poll, is insufficient for representing India’s complex socio-economic, cultural, and regional diversity. Psychological research emphasizes the importance of representative sampling in capturing the wide spectrum of human experiences and perceptions.

In large populations, variations in happiness and well-being are influenced by numerous factors, including economic status, education, cultural values, and social norms. The representativeness of the sample is crucial to ensure that the collected data accurately reflect the population’s diverse experiences and attitudes. Moreover, the stratification of samples to encompass different socio-economic strata, age groups, and regions is essential to mitigate sampling bias and enhance the validity of the findings.

The methodology’s reliance on life evaluations, obtained through the Cantril ladder, as a principal measure of well-being, raises concerns about the depth and breadth of the insights gleaned. Life evaluation as a measure tends to capture an individual’s cognitive judgment of their life circumstances rather than their emotional well-being or life satisfaction. Psychological research suggests that well-being is a multifaceted construct, encompassing emotional, psychological, and social dimensions. Therefore, relying predominantly on life evaluations can lead to an incomplete understanding of well-being. Theories like the Broaden-and-Build theory of positive emotions propose that well-being is not only about the absence of negative experiences but also the presence of positive emotions and fulfilling experiences, which may not be adequately captured by life evaluations alone.

Further, capturing the temporal aspect of subjective well-being is particularly challenging due to phenomena like recency bias. Life evaluations are often disproportionately influenced by recent events or experiences, which can skew perceptions of long-term well-being. For example, an individual might rate their overall life satisfaction higher shortly after a positive event or lower following a negative one, regardless of their general life circumstances. This recency bias can lead to overestimations or underestimations of well-being when people are asked to make retrospective judgments about their lives.

The subjective nature of well-being makes it inherently difficult to quantify. What constitutes happiness or well-being can vary greatly between individuals and cultures, making a one-size-fits-all approach problematic. The use of the Cantril ladder for life evaluations, for example, relies on self-reported data, which can be influenced by current mood, social desirability bias, and cultural norms about expressing personal feelings.

Cultural sensitivity is another critical aspect often overlooked in large-scale surveys. In a culturally rich and diverse country like India, the way people interpret and respond to questions about life satisfaction and happiness can be deeply influenced by cultural norms and values. Psychological research on cross-cultural differences in self-expression and happiness suggests that cultural context significantly affects how individuals perceive and report their well-being. For example, in collectivist societies, community and family satisfaction might influence individual happiness ratings, whereas, in individualistic cultures, personal achievements and freedoms might be more significant. Thus, without careful consideration of these cultural nuances, the data may not accurately reflect the true state of well-being among the Indian population.

Finally, the methodological approach to measuring positive and negative emotions through daily experiences, while useful for capturing short-term emotional states, may not provide a comprehensive view of an individual’s overall well-being. Emotional states are highly transient and subject to daily fluctuations, influenced by immediate circumstances and events. Longitudinal psychological studies argue for the importance of considering both the affective (emotional) and cognitive (evaluative) components of well-being over time to obtain a more holistic understanding. Furthermore, the interplay between various psychological factors, such as resilience, coping mechanisms, and social support, and their impact on long-term happiness and life satisfaction should be integrated into the methodology to provide a more nuanced and comprehensive view of well-being.

In any index, there is value judgement attached with the kind of indicator one uses. However, value judgements can introduce flaws by creating bias and prejudice, leading to decisions based on personal beliefs rather than objective analysis. They often result in a limited perspective, as they can overshadow objective data and alternative viewpoints, thus impairing objectivity. This can also foster conflict and division, as individuals or groups with differing values struggle to find common ground, potentially resulting in decisions that unfairly favour one set of values over another. Furthermore, value judgments can lead to inconsistent standards, treating similar situations differently based on the subjective views of the decision-maker, undermining trust and fairness. Additionally, they may cause resistance to change, hindering progress and adaptation by disregarding new information or perspectives that challenge established norms.

Nobody is arguing that Indians are extremely happy. But they are not inherently unhappy either. The narrative spun by these indices, with their flawed sample sizes and culturally insensitive yardsticks, hardly encapsulates the vibrant life and resilient spirit of India’s billion-strong populace. It’s high time we recognised these indices for what they are: Not definitive markers of joy or despair but rather limited snapshots tainted by methodological biases and cultural myopia. Indians are not inherently unhappy; they are simply immeasurable by the narrow confines of these global happiness barometers.

Aditya Sinha (X:@adityasinha004) is OSD, Research, Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely that of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstpost’s views.