If human beings were free to choose which country to move to, would any particular countries gain a whole bunch of population? Which ones?

@DeluxedEdition not really...I wouldn't want to settle there even on gunpoint.

@Unlearn

@DeluxedEdition I don't have a reaction emoticon to really show how I feel...

@Unlearn it's okay i will just pretend you sent me a hug. hugs you back 😉

@DeluxedEdition DO you even know what the term "Third World" countries even refers to?

Basically I summarized what you said and you are asking me if I know what the third world means

@Graylight

@DeluxedEdition So, no. The term "Third World" arose during the Cold War to define countries that remained non-aligned with either NATO or the Warsaw Pact. The United States, Canada, Japan, South Korea, Western European nations and their allies represented the "First World", while the Soviet Union, China, Cuba, and their allies represented the "Second World". Anyone not participating with either side is referred to as 3rd World.

This has aligned to include many economically and politically struggling nations, but the terms was never meant to be used to discuss only a country's wealth or leadership style.

According to the 2017 GDP versus life satisfaction survey, Niger, Tanzania and Malawi all rank higher than the US for happiness. And Scandinavia. And Canada. Even India outranks the US. Our measures of satisfaction are not world measures. They're only what we hold valuable.
(https://ourworldindata.org/happiness-and-life-satisfaction; nat'l geographic)

@Graylight and then you really pulled a link from national geographic about the happiness index *deluxe exits the chat*

@DeluxedEdition Not trying to add fuel to fire but if people were happy in their third world countries, why would they bother moving to a first world country!? 😊

@Unlearn because they lack a more refined and established system and seek out growth opportunities and government assistance

@DeluxedEdition I am sure you would agree that there is more to life than refined, established systems and government assistance. In my case I live in india and I am very comfortable here and the growth opportunities are pretty amazing here. We are the fourth or third largest economy in the world. I don't depend on or have any major expectations with the government or the system. Though india is managing quite well in those departments too. I wouldn't want to live away from india, I have grown up here and this is home.

@Unlearn well. that is probably a large contributor to why Americans are so unhappy. america (i heard it changed to china this year but i'm not sure) is the largest economy in the world. and that sounds amazing but it's likely a huge contributor to why so many americans have so many mental illness and why alcoholism and drug abuse is such a huge problem in america. americans want escapism. Work, work, work, every single day. you get up to make a dollar to live only to spend it... to live... just to get by. it's an endless rat race, and this is coming from someone who believes in hard work.

and good for you. i moved from a very poor area in america where there were no growth opportunities or jobs, and so i moved to a more populated area where there is better growth opportunities and school and jobs. i live in a vacation state. it's beautiful here and i am accustomed to the way things operate here nonetheless and this is home for me.

@DeluxedEdition Thankfully india is not as materialistic as some of the other countries...I like it's laid back attitude. Economical development doesn't necessarily translate to personal satisfaction and living a meaningful and fulfilling life. I don't like too many rules, laws, everything working like part of a bigger system, etc. I like randomness.