Further to this post from last week on global happiness, and to The Observer's rhubarb reflections on whether or not liberal and democratic values are better values, or universal, see this piece by Robert Foa on the connection between happiness and freedom:
In all but three countries where perceived freedom rose, subjective well-being rose also.
.....
[E]very country making a transition from authoritarian rule to democracy shows a rising sense of free choice.
.....
The happy countries include social democracies such as Sweden and Denmark, and more laisser faire economies such as Australia and the US. What they have in common are not their policies but institutions: democracy, rule of law and social tolerance. People are largely capable of engineering their own happiness when given the means to do so.
(Via Lane Kenworthy.)