Ruut Veenhoven studied sociology and is Emeritus Professor of Social Conditions for Human Happiness at Erasmus University Rotterdam in The Netherlands, where he is currently affiliated with the Erasmus Happiness Economics Research Organization. Professor Veenhoven is director of the World Database of Happiness and editor of the Journal of Happiness Studies.

Professor Veenhoven’s current research focuses on the effects of choice on happiness, public choice as well as private choice.