The U-Shaped Curve of Happiness

Happiness Curve

David Blanchflower describes the U-shaped curve of happiness, which shows a decline in happiness from young adulthood into midlife, followed by an increase in later years. He notes that happiness starts to fall around age 18 and hits its lowest point in midlife before picking up again around age 65 or 70 1. This pattern is consistent across various countries and cultures, indicating a universal experience 2.

Happiness is U-shaped in age, but if you think of unhappiness, it's just the flip. So the unhappiness curve is just the hump-shaped copy of the U shape.

--- David Blanchflower

Understanding this curve can help individuals recognize that feelings of declining happiness in midlife are normal and temporary.

   

Global Trends

The U-shaped happiness curve is not just a phenomenon in the United States but is observed globally. David Blanchflower explains that this pattern is evident in both developed and developing countries, suggesting a deeply genetic basis for this trend 3. Even great apes exhibit a similar midlife dip in happiness, indicating a possible evolutionary root.

The surprising thing is how little variation there actually is. It looks like sort of deeply genetic.

--- David Blanchflower

This global consistency underscores the universality of the happiness curve and its potential biological underpinnings.

   

Jobs & Wellbeing

Employment plays a significant role in individual well-being. David Blanchflower emphasizes that good jobs are crucial for happiness, and unemployment significantly contributes to unhappiness 4. He argues that public policy should focus on creating well-paid, decent jobs to improve overall well-being, especially for those at the lower end of the socio-economic spectrum 5.

The provision of a good job raises well-being. Inability to work is a big deal.

--- David Blanchflower

Addressing unemployment and job quality can help mitigate the midlife dip in happiness.