If you are happy, your state is likely to recover from the recession more quickly.

That's the finding of new research that determines that economic recessions are weaker, expansions are stronger, and recovery is faster in U.S. states where people are more optimistic.

The research findings, from the University of Miami School of Business Administration, are particularly unique because they reflect a cause and effect between happiness and economic prosperity, not an effect where economic prosperity is making people happier.

(READ the story in CS Monitor)