There is no gainsaying that the ultimate goal of welfare state lies in making people’s life happy. Figure 1 presents a comparison of economic growth and happiness in advanced economies. The points that are placed on the right above the regression line represent countries with a high economic growth rate and a high gross national happiness level. The countries that are positioned on the left above the regression line are those whose gross national happiness levels are high relative to their economic growth. The countries plotted below the regression line, of which Korea is one, feature gross national happiness levels that are low relative to their economic growth.
Figure 2 illustrates the negative relation between gross national happiness and the standard deviation of happiness. Discussions of happiness in the context of social policy are mostly about how to increase happiness measures or how to promote the level of happiness people experience in their lives. Happiness inequality has surfaced as an issue of particular importance in such discussions. Figure 1 shows, however, the level of happiness among Koreans remains short of what Korea’s economic achievements suggest. Making a welfare state where people are happy requires not only economic advances, but also the reducing of happiness inequality. Along these lines, it is important to identify, besides those already identified as socioeconomically vulnerable, those with low happiness ratings and, with evidence-based policy measures, help them live with a decent quality of life. This study draws on data from Gallup’s World Poll of some 150 countries, on which the World Happiness Report rankings are based.