Social Conditions of Happiness. the Case of Mexico

Social conditions of happiness. The case of Mexico

The paper is based on a national survey that will be made in Mexico next November by the seminar Subjective Satisfaction about Life and Society. The paper will present the results of a group of variables associated to happiness according to the following levels. At the individual level, it will explore the conscious of freedom in decision making, the expectations horizon assumed, and the perception of control over the future life. At the medium level, it will explore two dimensions: a) social cohesion levels in terms of quality of social relationships (social capital), homogeneity of them, and conflict (family, friends, neighbors, work); c) quality of social relationships and decision practices in organizations (voluntary, club, civic and political). At the macro level, it will be taken into account two dimensions as well: a) cooperation and public goods (for example, environment care or taxes payment), and b) quality of government. We intend to show that happiness is positively associated with the capability of making decisions freely and with the sense of control of our lives; with the presence of interaction spheres, informal or for formalized, without social fragmentation and regulated by reciprocity patterns; and, with the perception that our lives are built on cooperation with others and with governments that listen to us and consider our demands.