Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Bigger government makes for more satisfied people, study finds
ScienceDaily.com ^ | 8-15-14 | none listed

Posted on 08/17/2014 10:58:41 PM PDT by pluvmantelo

People living in countries with governments that spend more on social services report being more contented, according to a Baylor University study.

"The effect of state intervention into the economy equals or exceeds marriage or employment status -- two traditional predictors of happiness -- when it comes to satisfaction," said Patrick Flavin, Ph.D., assistant professor of political science in Baylor's College of Arts & Sciences. The study -- "Assessing the Impact of the Size and Scope of Government on Human Well-Being" -- is published in the journal Social Forces. The researchers analyzed data from 21 advanced industrialized countries in the World Values Survey from 1981 to 2007, with nearly 50,000 respondents.

(Excerpt) Read more at sciencedaily.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Extended News; Government
KEYWORDS: government; study
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-44 next last
Since this is a SCIENTIFIC study, I guess it's time to shutter FR, gather up our marbles and trudge off into history. Although, I do remember a fellow back in the 19th century who made a claim about scientific socialism that turned out to be a bit off the mark. Engels, I think that was his name.
1 posted on 08/17/2014 10:58:41 PM PDT by pluvmantelo
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: pluvmantelo

I would venture to say that no FReepers were included in this poll - or people with a brain for that matter.


2 posted on 08/17/2014 11:00:31 PM PDT by Veggie Todd (The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants. TJ)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: pluvmantelo

hammocks are more satisfying than mowing the lawn too


3 posted on 08/17/2014 11:02:09 PM PDT by GeronL (Vote for Conservatives not for Republicans)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: pluvmantelo
A study, almost certainly funded by a government finds that governments spending money leads to happier people.

Surprising.

4 posted on 08/17/2014 11:04:03 PM PDT by FredZarguna (Das ist nicht nur nicht richtig, es ist nicht einmal falsch!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: pluvmantelo

Sure. Let 99% of the globe have big government to satisfy the 99% of humanity that wants it. But let there be one country, one, where people can go to escape it.

That used to be us.


5 posted on 08/17/2014 11:04:15 PM PDT by marron
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: pluvmantelo

They were happy in the long lines in the Soviet Union.
At least that’s what they said when asked...


6 posted on 08/17/2014 11:08:34 PM PDT by TigerClaws
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: pluvmantelo

This is total nonsense — just look at the numbers. In pretty much all European nations they have some version of socialism, yet their rankings go from near the bottom to the top of the rankings.

And there is no indication of the error.

And of course one question doesn’t really shed sufficient light on the subject.


7 posted on 08/17/2014 11:11:20 PM PDT by Innovative ("Winning isn't everything, it's the only thing." -- Vince Lombardi)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: pluvmantelo

Scientific? Like global warming?


8 posted on 08/17/2014 11:16:25 PM PDT by Dapper 26
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: pluvmantelo

One should note that the top 10 are relatively homogeneous societies with smaller populations. Note how the score goes down in proportion to the diversity in the population. Just how many minorities are living in Denmark? I am, however, surprised that Japan would be so low.


9 posted on 08/17/2014 11:18:50 PM PDT by AlexW
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Veggie Todd

Not neccesarily, but it doesnt matter because its all very subjective anyway.


10 posted on 08/17/2014 11:22:59 PM PDT by Vanders9
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: pluvmantelo

Only a parasite would be more satisfied with bigger government.


11 posted on 08/17/2014 11:23:52 PM PDT by formosa
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: pluvmantelo
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3193996/posts

...and Michael Brown was a choir boy.

12 posted on 08/17/2014 11:36:40 PM PDT by The Duke ("Forgiveness is between them and God, it's my job to arrange the meeting.")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

Show us the demographics of these “satisfied” countries.


13 posted on 08/17/2014 11:39:09 PM PDT by Gene Eric (Don't be a statist!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: FredZarguna

Tax dollars funneled into tenured, government-dependent research grants.

Kinda circlular, ain’t it?


14 posted on 08/17/2014 11:44:36 PM PDT by wac3rd (Somewhere in Hell, Ted Kennedy snickers....)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: AlexW; All

I would also like to see how far the lowest wages in their businesses compare with pay of CEOs in large businesses. For example, do they have a situation where the CEO of Walmart makes $21,000,000 while the lowest employees are paid $9 an hour. A society’s sense of fairness affects the unrest level.


15 posted on 08/17/2014 11:51:55 PM PDT by gleeaikin
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: pluvmantelo
Believing itself "scientific," this Progressive class sought to explain its differences from its neighbors in "scientific" terms.

-The Ruling Class and the Perils of Revolution
16 posted on 08/17/2014 11:58:37 PM PDT by Tzimisce
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: pluvmantelo

They felt terrific in Greece until they ran out of other people’s money.


17 posted on 08/18/2014 12:08:21 AM PDT by Moonman62 (The US has become a government with a country, rather than a country with a government.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Tzimisce

Mr. Codevilla is always worth reading.


18 posted on 08/18/2014 12:10:08 AM PDT by pluvmantelo (Democrats:the party of moral hazard, the IRS, the NSA and the heckler's veto)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 16 | View Replies]

To: pluvmantelo

Big fat steers in a feedlot munching on grain are pretty satisfied, so I hear.


19 posted on 08/18/2014 12:11:29 AM PDT by piasa (Attitude adjustments offered here free of charge)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: gleeaikin

“I would also like to see how far the lowest wages in their businesses compare with pay of CEOs in large businesses.”
_______________________________________________________
I do not know how much wage distribution has to do with this survey. Here in the Philippines, a shop clerk makes around only $100 per month !! That is working 8 hours per day, 6 days per week. I do not see any unrest here.
I have no idea how much shop owners or business executives make. I should look into it. It would be interesting to know.
I never see any unrest where I live.


20 posted on 08/18/2014 12:17:14 AM PDT by AlexW
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 15 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-44 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson