Ruut Veenhoven (1942) studied sociology. He is also accredited in social psychology and social-sexology. Veenhoven is emeritus professor of ‘social conditions for human happiness’ at Erasmus University Rotterdam in the Netherlands, where he is currently involved in the Erasmus Happiness Economics Research Organization. Veenhoven is also a special professor at North-West University in South Africa, where he is involved in the Optentia research program. He is director of the World Database of Happiness and a founding editor of the Journal of Happiness Studies.
Veenhoven’s research is mainly on ‘happiness’ in the sense of subjective enjoyment of life. One strand of his research is ‘happiness and public choice’, the purpose of which is to build an evidence basis for policies that aim at greater happiness for a greater number. Another research line is ‘happiness and private choice’ and the purpose is here to built an evidence base on which individuals can draw when faced with major life choices, such as having children or early retirement. In the context of this latter strand he is involved in a large-scale follow-up study; the ‘Happiness Indicator’, which is available on the internet at http://www.gelukswijzer.nl/hi
Veenhoven has also published on abortion, love, marriage and parenthood.
E-mail: veenhoven@fsw.eur.nl
Home page: http://www2.eur.nl/fsw/research/veenhoven