gwern comments on Is Kiryas Joel an Unhappy Place? - Less Wrong

20 Post author: gwern 23 April 2011 12:08AM

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Comment author: gwern 23 April 2011 06:02:42PM 4 points [-]

The divorce rate and the suicide rate are the two best proxies that I am aware of for unhappiness.

And not especially useful proxies in this case; while divorce is permitted, I would be deeply surprised if it did not come with huge social sanctions and other deterrents in Kiryas Joel. Suicide is outright forbidden.

Finally, JoshuaZ points out that the ultra-Orthodox generally lie/under-report about that sort of thing.