Competitive Societies Are Happy If the Women Are Less Competitive Than the Men

Societies are less happy to the extent that their members are more competitive. A 42-nation regression study, based on aggregated indicators of female competitiveness, male competitiveness, four components of happiness, and national development restricts this negative cultural link between overall competitiveness and average happiness to certain countries. A more competitive society is less happy only if its members deviate from the stereotype that women are less competitive than men. A populace is least happy if both genders are highly competitive.