Happiness as a national goal

A very interesting report by Richard Layard:

The first thing we know is that in the last 50 years average happiness
has not increased at all in Britain, nor in the United States, despite
massive increases in living standards.

Basically he says that once minimum needs are satisfied, happiness does not increase with wealth. Of course religion has been saying this for millenia. He also notes that:

We should also persist with income redistribution, since an extra pound or dollar gives more happiness to poor people than to the rich. That argument also implies redistribution to the Third World.

Statesmen take note...