According to the UN’s annual survey, Norway is the happiest place on Earth. The data is drawn from the answers to this question: “The top of the ladder represents the best possible life for you and the bottom of the ladder represents the worst possible life for you. On which step of the ladder would you say you personally feel you stand at this time?” (A plurality of Americans denied the existence of the ladder).

+ “While Italy is among the most developed countries, growth has stagnated for decades, almost 40 percent of its youngsters are out of jobs and it’s saddled with one of the world’s highest debt loads relative to the size of its economy. Yet Italians are in way better shape than Americans, Canadians and Brits, who all suffer from higher blood pressure and cholesterol and poorer mental health.” From Bloomberg: Italy’s Struggling Economy Has World’s Healthiest People. (I see this as a win for carbs.)