And yet consistently polled as being far happier. Turns out, when you have your basic needs cared for, can afford a house, to travel, the latest gadget ... well, the rest is just pretty pointless and doesn't buy you any additional happiness.
Most European countries are not poor. Not at all. By any definition. However, European countries typically do not encourage regless forms of capitalism (consequently reducing the GDP) and also consider the social aspects of public spending more important than the military ones.