There is more to happiness than raw economic growth. What happens when you measure countries by employment, health care, and life satisfaction? The United States and Europe run in opposite directions.

The pursuit of happiness is one of America's promises to its citizens, enshrined in the Declaration of Independence. But today, Americans are a profoundly unhappy people. Their sour mood in the wake of the Great Recession reflects growing disillusionment with the exceptionalism of the American Dream and a widespread sense that the United States is in decline. The perceived fall from greatness, and who is to blame for it, are already shaping up as major themes for the 2012 campaign.

"Many in Washington--including the president--are really arguing over how best to manage the decline of our nation," Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wis., the House Budget Committee chairman, charged in an early salvo last month.

 

9 ISRAELEmployment Rate: 25th

 Self-Reported Health: 10th

 Employees Working Long Hours:29th

 Educational Attainment: 12th

 Life Expectancy: 8th 14th

 Self-Reported Health: 21st

 Employees Working Long Hours: 9th

 Disposable Income: 15th

 Educational Attainment: 13th

 Life Expectancy: 18th

8 FINLANDEmployment Score:

7 SWITZERLANDEmployment Score: 10th

 Self-Reported Health: 6th

 Employees Working Long Hours:17th best

 Disposable Income: 5th

 Educational Attainment: 8th

 Life Expectancy: 2nd 6th

 Self-Reported Health: 11th

 Employees Working Long Hours: 2nd

 Disposable Income: 10th

 Educational Attainment: 10th

 Life Expectancy:7th 4th
     Self-Reported Health:7th

 Employees Working Long Hours: 1st

 Disposable Income: 12th

 Educational Attainment: 19th

 Life Expectancy: 16th

6 SWEDENEmployment Score:

5 THE NETHERLANDSEmployment Score:

4 AUSTRALIAEmployment Score:8th
     Self-Reported Health:4th

 Employees Working Long Hours: 28th

 Disposable Income: 8th

 Educational Attainment: 22nd
     Life Expectancy:3rd

3 : NORWAYEmployment Score:3rd

 Self-Reported Health: 9th

 Employees Working Long Hours:5th

 Disposable Income:2nd

 Educational Attainment: 15th

 Life Expectancy: 12th 10th

 Self-Reported Health: 2nd

 Employees Working Long Hours: 10th

 Disposable Income: 8th

 Educational Attainment: 6th

 Life Expectancy:10th DENMARKEmployment Score: 5th

 Self-Reported Health:15th

 Employees Working Long Hours: 3rd

 Disposable Income:18th

 Educational Attainment: 18th

 Life Expectancy: 25th

2 : CANADAEmployment Score: