A Thousand Ways to Understand Happiness in the Economy of the European Union's "Next Generation" Funds

Marchena Domínguez, José (ed.)
Ravina Ripoll, Rafael (ed.)
Galiano Coronil, Araceli (ed.)

Like the New Deal (1933-1938), the Next Generation funds were created to consolidate the Welfare State in the European Union during the post-Covid-19 era. To this end, comprehensive public spending policies are being carried out and supported; it is to be imagined by Keynes' anti-utilitarian ideals. This apriorism is rooted in Aristotle's idea of eudaimonic happiness. That is to say, the collective well-being of citizens is achieved by formulating active policies that promote the integral development of people through education, employment, culture, innovation, etc. It puts on the academic table that individuals' happiness or subjective well-being should be one of the main intangible drivers of prosperity, technological progress, intra-entrepreneurship and social development of the territories. It requires, among other things, proactive, dynamic, empathetic and professional behaviour from public administrations, NGOs and companies.