Why Norwegians Are Happy

I just ran into a Norwegian couple here in the U.S. on vacation.  As previously mentioned, I like to compliment Scandinavians on their standing near the top of the World Happiness Rankings, and then ask them to explain how they got there.

These folks gave the usual answers: free healthcare and education, and a feeling of community.  But they went on to add something I hadn’t heard previously: safety.

No one endangered.  Because the rich aren’t super-rich and the poor aren’t dirt poor, there is very little crime, no gated communities, and a bare minimum of security.