Finland has been successful in creating a prosperous economy while maintaining a high level of social welfare. In order to emulate Finland

Key Highlights :

1. Glaswegians are not the happiest people in the world according to the UN-sponsored World Happiness Report.

2. The key to happiness in Finland is relative economic prosperity and a dynamic approach to innovation.

3. The testbed approach brings innovation to its communities and in many cases, solutions are co-created.

4. The city of Helsinki is a testbed for new products and services and has brought together over 100 local organisations which support each other to advance recycling, carbon reduction and the circular economy.

     The World Happiness Report is a UN-sponsored study that measures happiness in 156 countries. It has been published annually since 2012 and this year's report was released in March. The main findings of the report are as follows:

     1. Finland is the happiest country in the world.

     2. The Netherlands is second happiest, followed by Norway and Denmark.

     3. The UK is 19th happiest, down from 8th place in 2016.

     4. Canada is 6th happiest, up from 7th place in 2016.

     5. USA is 14th happiest, down from 7th place in 2016.

     6. India is the least happy country in the world, followed by China and Venezuela.

     7. The report finds that while there has been some improvement in happiness levels since 2016, there is still a lot of work to be done to achieve global happiness levels that are “of high quality”.

     So what can we learn from the Finnish experience, and can we replicate aspects of it here in Glasgow?

     The first thing to note is that while there are many factors that contribute to happiness, one of the most important is social support. In Finland, social support is highly valued and is seen as an essential part of a good life. This is reflected in the fact that Finland has one of the lowest rates of loneliness worldwide.

     Another key factor is having a sense of purpose. In Finland, people are encouraged to find a purpose in life and to contribute to society. This is reflected in the fact that Finland has one of the highest rates of volunteerism worldwide.

     Finally, it is important to have a good physical and mental health. In Finland, both physical and mental health are highly valued and people are encouraged to get regular exercise and to maintain a healthy diet. This is also reflected in the fact that Finland has one of the lowest rates of suicide worldwide.

     So, while the UK may not be the happiest country in the world, there is plenty that we can learn from the Finnish experience. We can adopt a culture of social support, have a sense of purpose, and have a good physical and mental health. If we do these things, we can be sure that we will be happy and contented.

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