Is Life Getting Better?

the AZEL PERSPECTIVE Commentary on Cuba's Future, U.S. Foreign Policy & Individual Freedoms - Issue 165

Is Life Getting Better? Share Tweet Forward

According to Betteridge’s Law of Headlines, any headline that ends in a question mark can be answered by the word “no.” The “law,” named after British journalist Ian Betteridge, is intended to be humorous rather than a literal truth. And, in the case of my title “Is Life Getting Better?” a negative answer is certainly wrong. Life is definitely getting better. That is a central theme in Steven Pinker’s book “Enlightenment Now,” and particularly of his discussion of quality of life and happiness in chapters 17 and 18, which I borrow for this column. “Think of it this way: The average American now retires at age 62. One hundred years ago, the average American died at age 51.” That makes the case that life is getting longer; but is it getting better? Consider this, one measure social scientists use to gauge quality of life is the time we must spend earning a living vs the time we can dedicate to leisure activities. The 60-hour work week of years past is now history and, whereas in 1929 Americans spent more than 60 percent of their income on necessities, that figure is now closer to 33 percent. We have the time and the income to afford more leisure, but are we happier? It may surprise the reader to know that there is a branch of economics dedicated to the study of happiness. Happiness economics is defined as the “quantitative and theoretical study of happiness, positive and negative affect, well-being, quality of life, life satisfaction, and related concepts, typically combining economics with other fields such as psychology, health, and sociology.” Historically, economists have held that, within a given country, people with higher income were happier. That is, well-being was viewed as a function of income.  Extrapolating from this, national financial measures such as gross domestic product (GDP) were believed to correlate positively with a nation’s happiness. Citizens of wealthier nations were assessed as happier than those in poorer nations. But in 1974, professor of economics Richard Easterlin reported data showing that happiness was not significantly associated with GDP per capita among developed nations.  His work became known as the Esterlin Paradox. According to Easterlin, comparisons within a country show that, richer people are happier. But, in international comparisons, richer nations did not appear happier that poorer nations. The Esterlin Paradox controversy continues to this day. However, more recent and more detailed data seem to show Easterlin was wrong. People in richer countries are indeed happier, and people do get happier as their country gets richer. Happiness economists hope to provide insights to influence the way governments view the well-being of their citizens and the national allocation of resources. To be sure, there are factors other than income that influence happiness. The World Happiness Report 2016 identified other considerations on national happiness such as: Social support of friends or relatives that we can count on in times of trouble, our generosity, and our perception of the corruption in our communities. Aggregately, the data show that as countries get richer, life is getting better for more and more people. Most important of all, we are happier when we are free to choose what to do with our lives. As Pinker points out, in theory freedom and happiness are independent of each other. In practice, however, “freedom and the other good things in life go together.” The level of happiness in a country is correlated with the free choice and control people have over their lives. Freedom, like good health, is a prerequisite of a meaningful life, although the uncertainty of freedom may add to our anxieties. Professor Angus Deaton, who was awarded the 2015 Nobel in economics for his work on poverty, wellbeing, and economic development, has also identified an “age effect” on happiness. As we get older we tend to become happier. Apparently, as we age, and once we pass our middle age crisis, we become wiser, and are better able to put our lives in perspective. I agree. And life is certainly getting better as I celebrate the 20th anniversary of my 50th birthday. Please let us know if you  this article. We welcome your feedback. Abrazos,  Lily & José  (click on the name to email Lily or Jose) José Azel, Ph.D. José Azel left Cuba in 1961 as a 13 year-old political exile in what has been dubbed Operation Pedro Pan - the largest unaccompanied child refugee movement in the history of the Western Hemisphere. He is currently dedicated to the in-depth analyses of Cuba's economic, social and political state, with a keen interest in post-Castro-Cuba strategies. Formerly, a Senior Scholar at the Institute for Cuban and Cuban-American Studies (ICCAS) at the University of Miami, Jose Azel has published extensively on Cuba related topics. In 2012 and 2015, Dr. Azel testified in the U.S. Congress on U.S.-Cuba Policy, and U.S. National Security.  He is a frequent speaker and commentator on these and related topics on local, national and international media.  He holds undergraduate and masters degrees in business administration and a Ph.D. in International Affairs from the University of Miami. José along with his wife Lily are avid skiers and adventure travelers.  In recent years they have climbed Grand Teton in Wyoming, trekked Mt. Kilimanjaro in Tanzania and Machu Pichu in Peru.  They have also hiked in Tibet and in the Himalayas to Mt. Everest Base Camp. They cycled St. James Way (El Camino de Santiago de Compostela) and cycled alongside the Danube from Germany to Hungary. They have scuba dived in the Bay Islands off the Honduran coast and in the Galapagos Islands. Their adventurers are normally dedicated to raise funds for causes that are dear to them.  Watch Joe & Lily summit Kilimanjaro. Books by Dr. José Azel "Liberty for beginners is much more than what the title promises. It is eighty themes touched with the wisdom of a master, and the charm of an excellent communicator. Anyone that wishes to understand why countries do, or do not progress, will find in this book the best explanations. If it was in my power, this work would be required reading for all college and university students, and I would recommend its reading to politicians, journalists, and policymakers. With this book Azel accomplishes what was achieved in France by Frédéric Bastiat, and in the United States by Henry Hazlitt: brings together common sense with intelligent observation, and academic substance. Stupendous" Carlos Alberto Montaner Buy Now "Libertad para novatos es mucho más de lo que promete el título. Son ochenta temas tocados con la sabiduría de un maestro y la amenidad de un excelente comunicador. Cualquier adulto que desee saber por qué progresan o se estancan los pueblos aquí encontrará las mejores explicaciones. Si estuviera en mis manos, esta obra sería lectura obligatoria de todos los estudiantes, tanto de bachillerato como universitarios, pero, además, se la recomendaría a todos los políticos y periodistas, a todos los policy makers. Azel logra con este libro lo que Frédéric Bastiat consiguiera en Francia y Henry Hazlitt en Estados Unidos: aunar el sentido común, la observación inteligente y la enjundia académica. Estupendo." Carlos Alberto Montaner Compre Aqui In Reflections on Freedom, José Azel brings together a collection of his columns published in prestigious newspapers.  Each article reveals his heartfelt and personal awareness of the importance of freedom in our lives.  They are his reflections after nearly sixty years of living and learning as a Cuban outside Cuba. In what has become his stylistic trademark, Professor Azel brilliantly introduces complex topics in brief journalistic articles. Buy Now En Reflexiones sobre la libertad José Azel reúne una colección de sus columnas publicadas en prestigiosos periódicos. Cada artículo revela su percepción sincera y personal de la importancia de la libertad en nuestras vidas. Son sus reflexiones después de casi sesenta años viviendo y aprendiendo como cubano fuera de Cuba.  En lo que ha resultado ser característica distintiva de sus artículos, el Profesor Azel introduce con brillantez complejos temas en  breves artículos de carácter periodístico. Compre Aqui Mañana in Cuba is a comprehensive analysis of contemporary Cuba with an incisive perspective of the Cuban frame of mind and its relevancy for Cuba's future. Buy now Pedazos y Vacíos is a collection of poems written in by Dr. Azel in his youth. Poems are in Spanish. Buy now

To friend, follow or email author click on the icons below: Click here to: View this email in your browser Access past issues Access automated translations Facilitate sharing Print from your browser Copyright © 2019 Azel & Associates, All rights reserved. If you are receiving this email it is because we met you at some point on an adventure. Our mailing address is: Azel & Associates 440 Sawgrass Parkway, Suite 106 Sunrise, FL 33325