The world is becoming a happier place

<i>Despite deepening economic gloom and impending climatic destruction...</i><p>Sheesh. Even back in the dark ages, people didn't start off unrelated discussions with "Despite the impending 2nd coming of Christ and our eternally burning souls..."

The study analyzes happiness data since 1981. Of course the world's a happier place -- think of everyone who lived in the USSR before.