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Whatmakesyouhappy?That'saquestionBritishPrimeMinisterDavidCameronisaskingthenationinasurveythisyear,aspartofadrivetoimproveBritons'livesbeyondpurefinancialgain.Astheglobalrecessioncontinues,MrCameronsaysheisseekingabettermeasureofprogressthanGDPalone.Heclaimseconomicstudiesoftenfocustoomuchonstandardofliferatherthanqualityoflife.Theproblemisthatassessinghappinessisaslipperysubject.Itiseasiertomeasuresomethingconcretelikeaperson'sincomethanasubjective,lesstangiblefactorlikewellbeing.Isitpossibletomeasurehappiness?Criticssaythe£2m(20myuan)schemewillnotproduceanymeaningfulresults.Otherssuggestitisunwisetocarryoutasurveyintothenation'shappinessjustasthegovernmentlaunchesthebiggestpublicspendingcutsindecades.MrCameronhimselfadmitsthatitiseasytobrandhisschemewoollyandimpractical,butitisnotwithoutprecedent.CanadahasanIndexofWellbeingwhichlooksathowthingslikemoneyandeducationaffecthealthandthesenseofcommunity.AndtheKingdomofBhutanhasuseditsindexofGrossNationalHappiness(GNH)sincetheearly1970sasatooltohelppolicy-making.Sowhatkindofanswersishelikelytoget?Whilethefullsurveybeginslaterthisyear,respondentstoaninitialconsultationhavealreadylistedtheirtoppriorities.Jobsecurity,goodhealthandrelationshipswithfamilymembersarewhatmattermosttopeopleintheUK,accordingtothefindings.Infact,havingajobwaslistedasmoreimportantthanbeingpaidahighsalary.Soperhapsthereistruthintheoldadagethat'moneycan'tbuyhappiness'.AnideaDavidCameronmayfindsolaceinashetriestofindawayoutoftherecession.Glossary词汇表drive运动financialgain钱财增加globalrecession全球经济衰退measureofprogress衡量进步的尺度slipperysubject棘手的课题concrete具体的subjective主观的tangible有形的、可触摸的wellbeing健康、幸福unwise不明智的publicspendingcuts削减公共开支brand给…加以罪名woolly像羊毛的、含糊的precedent前例senseofcommunity社区意识policy-making政策的制定initialconsultation初期阶段的咨询jobsecurity工作的保障oldadage老话、谚语findsolace找到慰籍