New Delhi, Nov. 5 -- For decades, economists and social researchers have sought ways to measure human well-being. The journey has moved from relatively limited measures such as gross domestic product (GDP) and gross national income to broader frameworks like the Human Development Index, to more sensitive measures such as happiness indices, and even assessments of the quality and habitability of our surroundings, such as the Global Liveability Index.

Each approach has improved on what came before. Despite these advances, one question is unanswered: Are people actually living better lives?

We may enjoy higher living standards, better technology, longer lives and greater access to information, but we may also be facing a different kind of ...