S2:3 The Urban Happiness Gap: Are City Dwellers Destined to Be Less Happy?

In this fun episode, we ask whether city life is secretly dragging down our happiness.

More people than ever are living in cities, but does urban life come at the cost of

happiness? Associate Professor Jens Fyhn Lykke Sørensen from the University of

Southern Denmark shares insights from his research on Denmark’s urban–rural

happiness gap. From the power of green spaces to the strength of local friendships,

we explore why rural residents often report greater life satisfaction, and what city

dwellers might do to catch up. Could a palm tree on your balcony make a difference?

Tune in and find out.

Link to the study:

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/384554929_Why_are_City_Residents_Less

_Happy_than_the_Rest_of_the_Population_in_Developed_Countries_Studying_the_

Urban-Rural_Happiness_Gap_in_Denmark_Using_Blinder-Oaxaca_Decomposition

Guest:

Associate Professor Jens Fyhn Lykke Sørensen