The Relationship between Unemployment and Happiness; Is it exist?

Unemployment rate is human-based rate which shows actually the strength of economies based on the work-force. Despite the fact that, Unemployment rate shows us economically data, it shows us how happy and calm the country is also. How? If your father, wife or child is unemployed, can you be happy-happy?

Ofcourse it is not the end of the world but still when you put your head to the pillow, you have something to think desperately. (I’m even not saying if you are unemployed…)

Is it really true? Let’s look at the World Happiness Report by UN. According to report; Denmark is the happiest country in the Europe. Not surprisingly, Denmark’s unemployment rate is 3.90% which is the third lowest in EU. Moreover, Switzerland with 3,0% and Norway with 3,4% unemployment rate first and second respectively.

Let’s go back to World Happiness Report by UN. I told you before that Denmark is the happiest country in Europe right? So, who is second and third? Surprisingly, Norway and Switzerland!Jealously, I really don’t like these perfect countries so let’s start to analysis trouble-makers of Europe.

Firstly, I would like to show you my picked countries and their unemployment rates. Greece and Spain where most economical crisis happened so no surprise that I chose them. Portugal has also very big unemployment rate but I chose it for a different aim which I will explain later. France and EU shows us the average Europe. Lastly, Germany with 4,9 unemployment rate which is very nice according to number of immigration and last but not least, UK which made a lot of progress. While I was writing this article, news from UK Employment Office just arrived that unemployment rate just fell for the seven times in a row to 6 percent which made UK good example economy in Europe in this article.
 

Greece Debt crisis started at 2009 and still on going because of the known reasons such as government deficit, tax evasion, incredible debts etc. etc. If I researched about it probably it should be a new article topic so I’m just cut it off.  When we look at my favorite table which is World Happiness Report, we can see that Greece is the 70^th out of 85. Which makes them 7^th Unhappiest Country in Europe.

Well… Not bad really. Because Greece has on going crisis and 26,4% unemployment rate which means from 10 people 4 of them is unemployed. Also, reports show us that, In 2012 Greeks were 1 point happier than 2013 and 1.8 happier than 2014. I can directly make a bond with Merkel Rescue Plan about Greece. Greeks were optimistic about that plan and they actually were thinking rescue plan can save them. However, they realized year by year that rescue plan is little bit heavy for their social rights and not actually rescued them.


 Spain crisis is part of European Debt Crisis. This crisis created bankruptcy, unemployment, debts and more debts for people. When we look at the historical data of Spain unemployment, we can see rocket movement. At 2008, unemployment rate was below 10 and now it is 24,47%. It had rapid rising dramatically. From that data plus economic crisis can say us more about why Catalonia wants independence. HUH?

On the other hand, about World Happiness Report, we can not say that Spain is completely unhappy and desperate. They are 15^th happiest country in Europe (happier than Czech Republic, Italy and Poland)

Spanish No Protest against goverment's economic policies

Portugal has almost the same scenario with Spain but for Portuguese people, the physchological point is much more desperate. They have unemployment rate which is 13,9% much less than Spain and Greece but this economic crisis hit Portugal greatly. Moreover, researches are saying that 40% of young Portuguese people looking forward to escape the country which is another negative aspect of Portugal future.


In conclusion, I can easily say that being happy and unhappy is completely different stuff and different matters. As I mentioned at the beginning of my writing; Yes, low unemployment rate can cause happier countries. Because most of them are economically developed, HDI high, ultra-social countries. When we look at the troubled economy and high unemployment rate countries such as Greece and Spain we can see that they are not unhappy as they should be:)There are unhappier countries whose economy is in much better situation than Greece and Spain. If we talk about unemployment rate, Portugal has better unemployment rate (still bad) than Greece but they are unhappiest country in the Europe. All in all, yes unemployment rate is a good catalyst of happiness. But we can not surely say that they are happy (unhappy) because of low (high) unemployment rate.