The Happier Lives Institute helps donors and decision-makers to answer this question:

How can we use our resources most effectively 
​to help people feel happier? ​

​Our research combines data from self-reported happiness and life satisfaction scores with insights from multiple academic disciplines, primarily economics, philosophy, and psychology.

our 2020 annual review

our 2021-22 research agenda

Our research

Foundational work

• What is wellbeing?
• How can we measure it?
• Can we compare saving lives to improving lives?
• Can we trust life satisfaction scores?
• Can we trust subjective scales?

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Problem areas

• Mental health
  ​Most people living with mental health disorders, even in rich countries, do not receive treatment.
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• Pain
  Millions suffer excruciating pain despite the fact that cheap and effective treatments exist. 

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Interventions

We estimate that StrongMinds (which provides psychotherapy) is 12 times (95% CI: 4, 24) more cost-effective than GiveDirectly (which provides $1,000 lump-sum cash transfers). ​

• Research summary
• Donation advice

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