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Ruut Veenhoven and the Latin-American Paradox in Happiness

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The Pope of Happiness

Part of the book series: Social Indicators Research Series ((SINS,volume 82))

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Abstract 

In this chapter, I highlight how Ruud Veenhoven influenced my work about subjective well being in Latin America. Or that purpose I propose some coincidences in the way of thinking between Ruud and the Chilean economist Manfred Max-Neef. I also share some anecdotes about his memorable trip to Colombia. I start from his now classical analysis about the four types of quality of life. From then on, I elaborate on how social relationships in particular relations of good quality with family and sharing of positive emotions can be considered as an interesting variable to explain the paradox of happiness in Latin America.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    Stiglitz, J., Sen, A und Fitoussi, J.P (2010) Mismeasuring Our Lives. The New Press, New York.

  2. 2.

    Erasmus Happiness Research Organization https://www.eur.nl/en/ehero/.

  3. 3.

    International Society for Quality of Life Studies.

  4. 4.

    See Wills (2009).

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Correspondence to Eduardo Wills-Herrera .

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Wills-Herrera, E. (2021). Ruut Veenhoven and the Latin-American Paradox in Happiness. In: Michalos, A.C. (eds) The Pope of Happiness. Social Indicators Research Series, vol 82. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-53779-1_29

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-53779-1_29

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