America Is Thriving… So Why Are People So Unhappy?

Is America thriving or falling behind? The answer may surprise you.

In this episode of New Frontiers, former Phoenix Mayor Paul Johnson sits down with Professor Douglas Harris of Tulane University, creator of the groundbreaking State of the Nation and State of the States projects.

While America's economy continues to outperform much of the world, Americans are reporting lower levels of happiness, trust, life satisfaction, and optimism. Why is there such a massive disconnect between the economic data and how people actually feel?

Professor Harris reveals the metrics that matter most when measuring a nation's success—including income growth, income inequality, life satisfaction, trust, education, mental health, and social mobility.

Joining the conversation is economist Elliott Pollack, who offers insights on housing affordability, productivity, education, economic growth, and the American Dream.

If you've ever wondered whether America is truly declining—or whether the data tells a different story—this is a conversation you don't want to miss.

Learn more about the State of the Nation Project: https://stateofnation.org

Chapters:
00:00 - Introduction
03:58 - The State of the Nation Report Explained
06:28 - Why Americans Are Losing Trust and Happiness
13:30 - The Metrics That Really Measure National Success
16:12 - Why Governments Struggle to Measure Results
19:35 - Ranking Every State: The State of the States Project
21:34 - Is Life Actually Better Than We Think?
30:07 - The 5 Metrics That Define a Successful State
32:54 - What Makes Some States More Successful Than Others?
34:11 - Best States vs Worst States in America
36:23 - The Truth About Income Inequality in America
53:43 - Why Education Still Determines Your Future
1:02:47 - The Shocking Findings That Changed His Perspective
1:08:20 - Can Democracy Survive Growing Pessimism?
1:11:33 - How Governors Can Improve Their States
1:18:42 - Final Remarks and Conclusion

You can listen to this episode on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or Google Podcasts!

Spotify: https://optamlink.com/spotify

Apple Podcasts: https://optamlink.com/apple

Google Podcasts: https://optamlink.com/google

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