Genes, culture, democracy, and happiness

Abstract

Subjective well-being is a product of genetic predispositions, economic conditions, and cultural-historical frameworks. Although individual happiness often gravitates toward a genetically influenced baseline, substantial and persistent variations exist between nations. Economic development substantially improves life satisfaction during the transition from subsistence to moderate prosperity, yet its marginal utility decreases once a specific threshold of wealth is attained. Beyond material factors, historical legacies are decisive. National happiness baselines are significantly influenced by religious and political history; Protestant legacies correlate with higher satisfaction levels, while populations in nations previously under communist governance report markedly lower levels. These societal baselines are sensitive to systemic shocks, as major political and economic collapses can precipitate sharp, long-term declines in a population’s perceived quality of life. Moreover, a society’s aggregate level of satisfaction serves as a critical predictor of the stability and persistence of democratic systems. While democratic governance does not automatically generate happiness, a high baseline of public contentment provides the cultural foundation necessary for institutional stability. Ultimately, while genetics account for individual variance within a single population, cultural and historical trajectories are the primary drivers of cross-national differences in human happiness. – AI-generated abstract.