History Is Relevant
This podcast links the past to the present. The programs seek new perspectives on current events by examining the history that brought us to where we are today. The host, Robert Brent Toplin, is a university-based professor of history. He has published a dozen books and more than 200 articles, and he has commented on history, politics, and film in several nationally broadcast television and radio programs.
History Is Relevant
Why Are Norwegians Happier Than Americans?
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The United States’ economy has grown enormously in recent decades, yet many Americans are not cheerful and confident. Polls in early 2026 reported consumer confidence in the United States was at the lowest point in a dozen years. Furthermore, the 2025 World Happiness Report showed the American people’s contentment dropped to 24th in the world. That was the lowest level ever recorded for the USA in that international happiness survey.
Consistently near the top in the global happiness rankings is Norway, a country somewhat like the United States. Norway, too, is a wealthy nation, and it, too, benefited from a huge expansion of energy production.
Why do many Norwegians report satisfaction about their economic and social condition, while many Americans indicate much less satisfaction?