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This book tests the critical potential of happiness research to evaluate contemporary high-performance societies. These societies, defined as affluent capitalist societies, emphasize competition and success both  institutionally and culturally. Growing affluence improves life in many ways, for a large number of people. We lead longer, safer, and more comfortable lives than previous generations. But we also live faster, and are competition-toughened, like top athletes. As a result, we suspect limits and detect downsides of our high-speed lives. The ubiquitous maximization principle opens up a systematic gateway to the pleasures and pains of contemporary life. Using happiness as a reference point, this book explores the philosophical and empirical limits of the maximization rule. It considers the answer to questions such as: Precisely, why did the idea of (economic) maximization gain so much ground in our Western way of thinking? When, and in which life domains, does maximization work, when does it fail? When do qualities and when do quantities matter? Does maximization yield a different (un)happiness dividend in different species, cultures, and societies?

Sociology & Social History --- Social Sciences --- Social Conditions --- Happiness. --- Well-being. --- Quality of life. --- Life, Quality of --- Welfare (Personal well-being) --- Wellbeing --- Gladness --- Social sciences. --- Medical research. --- Behavioral sciences. --- Macroeconomics. --- Positive psychology. --- Social Sciences. --- Quality of Life Research. --- Positive Psychology. --- Behavioral Sciences. --- Macroeconomics/Monetary Economics//Financial Economics. --- Economic history --- Human ecology --- Life --- Social history --- Basic needs --- Human comfort --- Social accounting --- Work-life balance --- Psychology --- Economics --- Biomedical research --- Medical research --- Behavioral sciences --- Human sciences --- Sciences, Social --- Social science --- Social studies --- Civilization --- Quality of life --- Happiness --- Health --- Wealth --- Emotions --- Cheerfulness --- Contentment --- Pleasure --- Well-being --- Quality of Life --- Animal behavior. --- Research. --- Animals --- Animals, Habits and behavior of --- Behavior, Animal --- Ethology --- Animal psychology --- Zoology --- Ethologists --- Psychology, Comparative --- Behavior

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Many people in the Western world are concerned that the social fabric of societies is fraying. This book constitutes the first-of-its-kind systematic account of social cohesion, from theory through methodology to empirical evidence. Readers are introduced to the academically developed Social Cohesion Radar of Bertelsmann Stiftung, a globally active non-governmental organization. The Social Cohesion Radar defines and measures cohesion as characterized by three core aspects: resilient social relations, positive emotional connectedness between people and the community, and a pronounced focus on the common good. Using high-quality academic and institutional data sources, the Social Cohesion Radar provides insights into the level and development of social cohesion over a period of almost 25 years internationally, among 34 European Union and OECD members, and regionally, among the 16 federal states of Germany. It further provides insights into what influences cohesion, and what cohesion is good for. One of the key findings is that social cohesion promotes a happier life for everyone.

Social sciences. --- Comparative politics. --- Medical research. --- Social policy. --- Social structure. --- Social inequality. --- Quality of life. --- Human geography. --- Industrial psychology. --- Social Sciences. --- Human Geography. --- Comparative Politics. --- Industrial, Organisational and Economic Psychology. --- Social Policy. --- Social Structure, Social Inequality. --- Quality of Life Research. --- Social participation --- Participation, Social --- Business psychology --- Industrial psychology --- Psychotechnics --- Industrial engineering --- Personnel management --- Psychology, Applied --- Industrial psychologists --- Anthropo-geography --- Anthropogeography --- Geographical distribution of humans --- Social geography --- Anthropology --- Geography --- Human ecology --- Life, Quality of --- Economic history --- Life --- Social history --- Basic needs --- Human comfort --- Social accounting --- Work-life balance --- Egalitarianism --- Inequality --- Social equality --- Social inequality --- Political science --- Sociology --- Democracy --- Liberty --- Organization, Social --- Social organization --- Social institutions --- National planning --- State planning --- Economic policy --- Family policy --- Biomedical research --- Medical research --- Comparative political systems --- Comparative politics --- Government, Comparative --- Political systems, Comparative --- Behavioral sciences --- Human sciences --- Sciences, Social --- Social science --- Social studies --- Civilization --- Community life --- Social groups --- Applied psychology. --- Quality of Life --- Industrial and Organizational Psychology. --- Applied psychology --- Psychagogy --- Psychology, Practical --- Social psychotechnics --- Psychology --- Research. --- Equality.

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Many people in the Western world are concerned that the social fabric of societies is fraying. This book constitutes the first-of-its-kind systematic account of social cohesion, from theory through methodology to empirical evidence. Readers are introduced to the academically developed Social Cohesion Radar of Bertelsmann Stiftung, a globally active non-governmental organization. The Social Cohesion Radar defines and measures cohesion as characterized by three core aspects: resilient social relations, positive emotional connectedness between people and the community, and a pronounced focus on the common good. Using high-quality academic and institutional data sources, the Social Cohesion Radar provides insights into the level and development of social cohesion over a period of almost 25 years internationally, among 34 European Union and OECD members, and regionally, among the 16 federal states of Germany. It further provides insights into what influences cohesion, and what cohesion is good for. One of the key findings is that social cohesion promotes a happier life for everyone.

Social sciences (general) --- Qualitative methods in social research --- Social stratification --- Sociology --- Social policy --- Political systems --- Human medicine --- Industrial psychology --- Environmental planning --- Social geography --- radars --- ruimtelijke ordening --- sociologie --- medisch onderzoek --- politiek --- sociale wetenschappen --- levenskwaliteit --- sociale ongelijkheid --- welzijnsbeleid --- sociaal beleid --- organisatiepsychologie

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In recent years, it has often been claimed that social cohesion, the social fabric of our societies, is decaying. The present report undertakes an empirical exploration of the validity of this alarmist view and considers the importance of social cohesion for citizens’ assessments of their quality of life. Drawing on data from the three most recent rounds of Eurofound’s European Quality of Life Survey (EQLS) – carried out in 2007, 2011 and 2016 – the report sets out to assess the current level of social cohesion in the EU and its evolution over time. It focuses on groups that are at risk of experiencing low social cohesion and on societal characteristics that contribute to creating cohesion. Overall, the findings reveal that in addition to the predictable drivers of social cohesion – prosperity, a generous and inclusive welfare system, high levels of education and low unemployment – digital skills has emerged as a critical driver, leading to more cohesive societies and thereby happier citizens in the EU.