What is happiness? How is it measured? How do countries around the world compare in life evaluations? And what are some of the newest insights from well-being science?

These questions cut to the heart of positive psychology – and the field’s future. Each year, the World Happiness Report offers a response by sharing insights from the Gallup World Poll and approachable chapters from leading experts in the field.

Come join a live discussion on the past, present, and future of the World Happiness Report as IPPA President, Professor Meike Bartels, poses questions to editors John Helliwell, Shun Wang, and Lara Aknin. The conversation will explain how the World Happiness Report was founded, reflect on the current data and state of the field – including its triumphs and challenges, and explore future possibilities for the measurement and understanding of global happiness. In particular, the discussants will consider the promises of big data, practical applications of what has been learned, and the powerful roles of institutions. The editors and Professor Bartels will also take questions from the audience on trends in global happiness, the impact of COVID-19, and more. Two other editors will contribute short recorded contributions: Jan Emmanuel De Neve on the use of workplace happiness to rank companies and Richard Layard on the future of happiness-driven policy research.

Whether you are practitioner or scholar, a regular reader or newcomer to the World Happiness Report, you will gain insight into the history and future of the field, trends in the global science of happiness, and value of widespread happiness science communication.