AMERICANS ARE PURSUING HAPPINESS BUT NOT ATTAINING IT ?

ECONOMICS OF HAPPINESSBHUTAN,THAILAND, CHINA AND GREAT BRITAIN ARE ALL TRYING TO MAKE HAPPINESS A PART OF THEIR GOVERNMENT POLICIES AND ECONOMICS.THE KING OF BHUTAN WANTS TO EMPHASISE GROSS NATIONAL HAPPINESS(GHP) IN ADDITION TO GROSS NATIONAL PRODUCT(GNP);THAI PRIME MINISTER WANTS A HAPPINESS MEASURE IN THE COUNTRY`S FIVE YEAR PLAN;CHINESE BUREAUCRATS WANTS A HAPPINESS INDEX;AND THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT HAS CREATED A WELL BEING INDEX.THE BBC IS TRYING TO DISCOVER THE’HAPPINESS FORMULA’ IN A SERIES OF PROGRAMMES IN JUNE 2007.IN 1776, THE AMERICIAN DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE DECLARED` THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS` AS A SELF EVIDE3NT TRUTH.RECENTLY,A BEST SELLING BOOK MADE INTO A HOLLYWOOD BOX OFFICE HIT,’ THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS’ MADE A POWEERFUL IMPACT WHEN IT MAINTAINED THAT AMERICIANS ARE PURSUING HAPPINESS BUT NOT ATTAINING IT.IN THE NEW CENTURY,MANY RICH COUNTRIES ARE REALISING THAT MONEY DOES NOT BRING HAPPINESS.THE RATES OF DIVORCE,DRUG TAKING,CRIME,VIOLENCE,SUICIDES AND MENTAL DISORDER IN THE SO-CALLED DEVELOPED COUNTRIES HAVE MADE POLICY MAKERS THINK DEEPLY INTO THEIR POLICIES THAT PROVIDE HIGH STANDARDS OF LIVING BUT LOW QUALITY OF LIFE.SO A NEW APPROACH IS BEING WORKED OUT TO TARGET HAPPINESS.FIRST THEY TRIED TO WHAT BRING HAPPINESS AND FOUND THAT THE FIRST SOURCE IS EMPLOYMENT,THEN MARRIAGE,CHILDREN,FAMILY VALUES AND FRIENDS.MONEY CAN BRING HAPPINESS ONLY TO A POINT .BEING SUPER-RICH BRINGS PLENTY OF PROBLEMS: OVER EXPOSURE IN THE MEDIA,GREATER RISKS TO LIFE LIKE KIDNAPPING,THEFT OF ASSETS AND ENVY.