Daily Debriefing
A nation's happiness is inversely correlated with its citizens' blood pressure problems, suggests a new study conducted by researchers at the University of Warwick and Dartmouth economics professor David Blanchflower. The findings will be published by the National Bureau of Economic Research, based in Massachusetts. "Perhaps blood-pressure readings will one day replace or augment GDP as a measure of the success of a country," University of Warwick Professor Andrew Oswald said. "Maybe economists and doctors are going to have to work together in the design of future economic policies." The research was based on a random sample of 15,000 people across Europe, who were then interviewed with regard to their health and contentment. The study ranks Sweden as Europe's happiest and healthiest country, while Portugal is found to be the least happy and healthy.