With all the recent negative news, the report on this month’sNational Geographic Magazine, where Malta was given a good ranking among the happiest countries in the world, is a ray of sunshine after a cloudy day. The last few weeks, the local newspapers were so boring that I switched to UK papers instead.

Every year the Gallup World Poll measures happiness in over140 countries.

The researchers found that about three-quartersof human happiness is driven by six factors: strong economicgrowth, healthy life expectancy, quality social relationships,generosity, trust and freedom to live the life that’s right for you.

These factors don’t materialise by chance, they are intimatelyrelated to a country’s government and its cultural values.

Malta got the same good rating as Germany, France, Luxembourg, the UK and the US. Now if that doesn’t make you proud to be Maltese, I don’t know what will.

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