How Happy Are Canadians?

The Mark Radio ep.30: Four experts comment on how to make Canadians more content.

How happy are you? Happier than yesterday? Happier than ten years ago? If not, you might live in Ottawa. Our nation's capital is, according to one recent study, also the capital of Canadian depression. Do the doldrums stem from the drudgery of civil service, the accumulated disappointment of their hockey team's recent playoff performance, or something more fundamental?

What can be done to cheer up Ottawans, or all Canadians, for that matter?

This week on the show, host Chris Mitchell speaks with four experts on elation:

First up, a conversation with Alex Michalos, the man who wrote the book on happiness. In fact, in the 40-plus years he's spent studying the subject, he's written nearly two dozen.

John Helliwell explains why happiness isn't about what you have, but who you share it with.

Michael Pennock discusses why GDP isn't as good an indicator of well-being as GNH -- Gross National Happiness.

And finally, Wayne Sumner on why real happiness can't be found in a pill.

(Run-time: 27m30).

Download the mp3 of this episode

Listen to more episodes of The Mark Radio

Subscribe to The Mark Podcasts on iTunes