Assignments

Class Attendance and Participation: 40% of your Grade

1. Generate class discussion from course material through active questioning and challenging ideas such as;

i) Does Economic growth, or increased economic performance, leads to happier societies?

ii) Will raising the incomes of all increases the happiness of all?

iii) What is the relationship between higher incomes and happiness according to Easterlin’s Paradox?

iv) What can economists learn from Happiness research and subjective well-being? And other related questions each week.

v) How would you define “Happiness/wellbeing?” Based on your own criterion you will interview the happiest person you know. Submit a Two-page summary.

2. Write independently using sustained analytical and evidence based reasoning and clear communication to consider why happiness, or “GNH” is being championed as the leading measure of wellbeing, supplanting the current favorite, real gross domestic product per capita, or GDP. (25% of your Grade)

3. Investigate and analyze quantitative information, on how social scientists measure happiness? Class will design a survey questionnaire to conduct and measure the wellbeing and happiness of Students at CalArts. The class will analyze the collected quantitative information, present the findings of the survey to the class and reflect on the relative advantages and disadvantages of Gross National Happiness, (GNH) as a measure of an Institute’s and by extension a country’s success? (35% of your Grade.)