evidence: Northern Ireland (NI) has its long list of issues. Enduring division, high levels of socio-economic deprivation and political instability would not make NI the obvious choice for the UK’s "happiest" region. [...] However, with the UK’s lowest economic productivity and disposable income, the Nevin economic research institute remarks that "on just about any other economic or social indicator of our well-being you tend to find Northern Ireland ranking poorly relative to the UK" [...] However, unlike NI, explaining the Republic of Ireland’s high levels of life satisfaction is relatively more straightforward. Looking comparatively across the island, Professor John Doyle outlines the main differences in living standards, with the Republic of Ireland out matching NI when it comes to enrolments in secondary education, disposable household income, and risks of poverty.