This article “Denmark is the Happiest Country” (Huffington Post, Oct 2013) is from a while ago, but quite worthwhile particularly in the current federal political context in Australia.

Relevant aspects are personal welfare as well as the overall social and political climate, and economic prosperity. It’s a pretty complete package.

The article notes that people feeling well cared for is a key factor, and that’s obviously not about seeing more police on the streets or politicians making scary announcements about terrorism. It’s also about caring for those around us. That’s a local social aspect, as well as an international issue (how to respond to a refugee crisis).

Other matters of importance are equality (in every respect), education, healthcare.

Worth a read. Of course, those who most need to learn these things are the people who don’t think there’s anything wrong with what they’re currently doing. But still.