Index of Inequality-Adjusted Happiness (IAH) Improved: A Research Note

Abstract

Eight years ago we proposed a new measure of happiness in nations, called Inequality-Adjusted Happiness (IAH). This measure indicates how successful nations are in combining a high level of happiness and a low degree of inequality in happiness among citizens. The index gives equal weight to the level of happiness measured using the mean and inequality of happiness measured using the standard deviation. Scores on this index are now available for 139 nations. In this paper we present a technical improvement for the method to calculate IAH.