novabrkr said:

Given how common depression and overall negative attitude towards minorities is in Northern Europe I find that list hilarious. Not to mention I live in the country that has the 2nd highest suicide rate in the world. "Happy" is hardly the right word.

Safe? Yes, for the most part. Don't have to fear losing your home in case you end up being unemployed? Yes, in most cases. Public health care? Yes, but the quality of the services is detoriating and the system is becoming ineffective. Access to tertiary education without having to pay for it? Yes, but it's not going to guarantee you a decent job since just about everyone else is going to be as "highly educated" as you are as a result of that. Jobs? Uhm, well. Would you be interested in an internship?

I remember reading about the high suicide rate in Northern Europe .

People are just really stressed out and frustrated in general.

There's ridiculous amounts of bureaucracy in "egalitarian" societies and you're always under the impression that you don't really get to decide on what you do in your life yourself. We're pretty much forced to go into tertiary education, for example. It all seemed very idealistic a few decades ago - "free education for everyone" - but it's just turned into a way to cut down unemployment rates (which otherwise would be ridiculously high).

[Edited 1/25/13 13:56pm]

This is my take;

What is happy?

Northern Europeans are not involved in many wars. They keep to themselves as countries and the people I have met from Scandanavian countries also keep to themselves as individuals.

That means less conflict

less money spent on war for the country.

Staying away from others also leads to lonelines.

Financially stable people but how passionate are they about their life and jobs and families?

Poor countries, very little loneliness but much conflict.

Fighting, poverty better food and more festivity.

More Americans would want to vacation in Mexico or Brazil then in Canada.

The people are warmer, kinder and more likely to rob you.

My point is it is all relative.