Betsey Stevenson

Economist, University of Michigan

Appears in 1 story

Party: Democratic Party

Education: Wellesley College, Harvard University

Last updated Nov 1, 2026

Stories

Four decades of tracking human happiness

New Capabilities

As of May 2026: Professor of Public Policy and Economics

Since 1981, the World Values Survey has asked people in over 100 countries a simple question: Are you happy? Happiness rose in 45 of 52 countries across six survey waves from 1981 to 2007, with the steepest gains in India, Ireland, Mexico, Puerto Rico, and South Korea.

Updated May 22