the enigma of kerala

mark just posted on twitter a link to a short biography of a trip to kerala in southern India, where people live on only $240 a year but have the same indicators or health and well being that wealthier nations hold dear. perhaps being happy and healthy is not dependent upon economic parity?

the wiki world has some contrasting data about kerala, pointing out its high unemployment, high suicide rate, etc. but they also cite two books noting kerala as one of the most sustainable agrarian economic systems around: [1] [2].

i’m somewhat intrigued but not surprised by the contrast kerala seems to create. we generally think that we must be wealthier to have social well-being. of course wealth is always relative, third world countries today have more comforts than the first world countries did in times past. but even relatively, somehow i have a sense that only wealthier countries can have well-being. and i don’t know where i got that idea because upon analysis it seems so silly. of course people of any level of income can have a sense of well-being and good health.

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