Are Americans Unhappier Today Than 10 Years Ago?

Americans were more happy ten years ago than they are today according to this article. Below are the key points from the article.

American happiness has fallen over the past decade, according to the 2017 World Happiness Report, an annual ranking by the United Nation's Sustainable Development Solutions Network.

The US came in at number 14 overall in the ranking in 2017, down one from the previous year. It has never cracked the top 10.

A recent decline in happiness appears even starker when looking to the results of a measure where Americans are asked to envision where they fall on a ladder that rates their "best possible life." Americans were first asked that question in 2006, and in 2007 the US had the third-highest happiness results of 23 OECD countries. Today, that response is at its lowest point yet, ranking 19th of 34 OECD countries.

"The United States can and should raise happiness by addressing America's multi-faceted social crisis—rising inequality, corruption, isolation, and distrust—rather than focusing exclusively or even mainly on economic growth, especially since the concrete proposals along these lines would exacerbate rather than ameliorate the deepening social crisis," he wrote.

I don’t know if anyone or any organization that can accurately say that one country is happier than another. Happiness is subjective, so I believe that this study can change drastically if the World Happiness Report’s methodology changes.

Also, I am skeptical to say that Americans were happier roughly ten years ago in the face of the financial crisis. Even if Americans are unhappy at their current state today, unscientifically I believe that Americans are under less stress today than ten years ago.

What do you guys think of this article? Can happiness be measured? Are you happy ten years ago comparing to today?

Note: I can foresee this being a controversial post and I am just summarizing the article, so don’t shoot the messenger.