Development policy based on happiness? A review of concepts, ideas and pitfalls

Happiness research, which has been strongly represented in the social sciences for some years, also offers opportunities for application in public policy. Consequently, there are already considerations to evaluate development policy by the yardstick of subjective well-being. This paper aims to provide an overview of the applications of happiness to development issues and to elicit both opportunities and pitfalls of such a policy. As a result, numerous problems associated with happiness research become apparent - conceptually, technically, and even ideologically. It is probably too early to proclaim a new paradigm of a "Happiness Development Policy". Thus, the paper also deals with what might still have to be done for a meaningful application.