Scandinavians are rated among the happiest people in the world. Why are we so happy? You might view happiness as the logical, cumulative effect of factors like social welfare, low population density, and clean and accessible nature. And those factors do count. It helps to know that if your child has a chronic disease, she will get free medical treatment. That schools and universities are free, as well, for everyone. Our famously generous parental leave— about 12 months fully paid, including 12 weeks for fathers, in order to encourage early bonding between father and child, with a long-term goal of enhancing equality between the ....—also contributes to this feeling of being protected by something larger than yourself, of living within a system that cares.
