That's a necessary feature. The best translation of "happy" in different countries can have very different connotations.
For Finland, discussion seems to hinge on whether "happiness" is "close enough" to "contentedness".
Things that for example the article author's favorite USA does not have. But of course a Murkin' can't accept that. I fully expect him to gripe that somehow the Corruption Perceptions Index is also somehow unfair to his favorite country too, and just cannot be right.
You had me at blaming "elites".