Relative Happiness Index (RHI)

[ A Self Assessment ]
[ What's the Purpose of the RHI? ]
[ What Factors Could Influence the Relative Happiness Index? ]
[ How Is the RHI Calculated? ]

A Self Assessment

The RHI represents a new means for quantitatively assessing the general state of mind of populations and comparing them. It is premised on the principle that human beings strive—consciously or subconsciously—to achieve a situation that resembles as closely as possible their individual views of happiness. Of course, perception of happiness is individualistic, varying from one person to the next based on our values, experiences, and feelings. The RHI therefore assesses how people view and perceive their own situations.

While it has no pretensions of defining happiness and even less of providing recipes for more easily achieving it, the RHI can yield a rich harvest of information. It's up to the individual to use it wisely.

What's the Purpose of the RHI?

It can be used to enrich major societal debates by adding a human aspect and a different assessment, both of which will contribute balance and complementary information that will be useful in interpreting the extensive quantitative data available (purchasing power, tax rate, economic performance, cost of living, discretionary income, hospital waiting list, etc.). We believe that, beyond all these data, it is essential to focus on the core objective of life: to be as happy as possible and to stay that way as long or as often as possible.

Regularly disseminating this index enables us to monitor trends in the relative happiness of the surveyed populations and measure major factors that influence it. The index also allows us to compare subgroups according to multiple variables. Are the residents of wealthy Alberta happier than those of Quebec and the rest of Canada? Are rural people happier than big-city dwellers? Are young people, immigrants, or women happier? And why not extend the index to other countries? Wouldn't it be interesting to know if the happiest people also live in "the best country in the world in which to live," according to the annual survey carried out by UNESCO? Is the happiness of different societies directly related to their prosperity?

"We have the stock market index, the humidity index, and so on. One fine day, there could be a happiness index." Nathalie Collard, journalist, La Presse.
Canal Vie, "Jeux de société," July 2006

As the RHI evolves, it will yield interesting answers to many questions key to reasons for living.

What Factors Could Influence
the Relative Happiness Index?

While the consensus is that happiness is an abstract notion that is relative and specific to each individual, we nevertheless are convinced that its constituents are broad universal values. Health, family, love, friendship, security, and recognition as well as material and spiritual factors all play roles in achieving happiness. Our index will identify these values and factors as well as weight their relative influence based on the various categories within the population surveyed.

Afterwards, it will be possible to sketch valuable portraits of many groups and subgroups, to cast a different and original light on human behavior, and to identify points for consideration and even elements of solutions to improve one's condition.

How Is the RHI Calculated?

Actually, it's very straightforward. It consists of directly asking the individuals surveyed if they are indeed happy and to rate their degree of happiness on a scale of 1 to 10.  

“The only way to determine is someone is happy is
to ask." [Translation] Dr. Alain Dagher, neurologist,
Montreal Institute of Neurology.
Canal Vie, "Jeux de société," July 2006

The RHI doesn't attempt to extrapolate the degree of happiness of people by weighting subindices: we simply ask them if they are happy. Since happiness is an abstract, personal, and relative notion, the respondents should assess it, quite simply, based on their own definition of happiness.

This process is straightforward, fair, credible, and direct, because it is not manipulated or interpreted using calculations that all too often lead us away from the real words, thereby diluting their value.

“One of the best ways to find out if a person is happy is
to ask them.” John Zelenski, Director, Happiness Laboratory,
Carleton University.
Canal Vie, "Jeux de société," July 2006

Based on a sample population more than 2300 respondents throughout the target provinces, the findings of this survey are extremely reliable, with a margin of error of only ±2,1%, 19 times out of 20.

Note: The Relative Happiness Index (RHI) is a registered trademark; all rights pertaining thereto, without restriction, belong exclusively to Côté communication conseil.