What is happiness? Should citizens choose or should we simply measure it more accurately?

Your question sounds very pertinent, Charlie Brown, now that monitoring happiness is a serious policy objective. How we define happiness is key, as it will inform and guide policy interventions. But, still, how should we define it? Perhaps as the absence of pain, in the wake of Epicurean notions? Or as maximising pleasure, following the utilitarian tradition? Or maybe as the pursuit of purpose beyond hedonism, echoing Aristotle? To some degree, all the above seem to matter. So, Charlie Brown, the issue is perhaps how best to ‘summarise’ happiness without assigning too much or too little weight to any aspect therein.