Measuring Well-being & Sustainable Welfare – Why it Matters 27 th March 2009 Measuring what matters - Dundee Nic Marks Founder of centre for well-being nef (the new economics foundation)

Who are nef? The New Economics Foundation Founded 1986 when G7 summit in UK An independent think (& do) tank Inspired by 3 principles 1.Ecological Sustainability 2.Social Justice 3.People’s Well-being centre for well-being formed 2005 nef consulting launched 2008

Measuring what matters  What do indicators actually indicate? A framework for indicators  Measuring Well-being: National Accounts of Well-being  Sustainable Well-being GPI - ISEW Happy Planet Index  How to improve people’s well-being: Five ways to well-being

What do Indicators Indicate? Ecosystem

What do Indicators Indicate? Human system Ecosystem

What do Indicators Indicate? Human system Ecosystem

What do Indicators Indicate? Human system Ecosystem Culture Social Capital Governance Economy Education Healthcare Natural Capital Biodiversity CO 2 emissions Soil erosion Water quality Air quality

What do Indicators Indicate? Human system Ecosystem Culture Social Capital Governance Economy Education Healthcare Natural Capital Biodiversity CO 2 emissions Soil erosion Water quality Air quality Resource demand

What do Indicators Indicate? Human system Ecosystem Resource demand Ecosystem well-being Human well-being Culture Social Capital Governance Economy Education Healthcare Natural Capital Biodiversity CO 2 emissions Soil erosion Water quality Air quality

Ultimate Outcome measures Human system Ecosystem well-being Human well-being Natural Capital Biodiversity CO 2 emissions Soil erosion Water quality Air quality

Measuring well-being Human system Human well-being Natural Capital Biodiversity CO 2 emissions Soil erosion Water quality Air quality “The quality of people’s experience of their lives” “This is a dynamic state, in which the individual is able to develop their potential, work productively and creatively, build strong and positive relationships with others, and contribute to their community.” Foresight, DIUS

National Accounts of Well-being Overall Well- being Personal Well-being Emotional wbSatisfying lifeVitalityResilience Positive Functioning Social Well-being Supportive Relationships Trust & belonginingness

Personal & Social Well-being across Europe

A High Scoring Nation

A Low Scoring Nation

Young People - UK Older People - UK Within a Nation

Scottish Well-being

Measuring what matters  What do indicators actually indicate? A framework for indicators  Measuring Well-being: National Accounts of Well-being  Sustainable Well-being GPI - ISEW Happy Planet Index  How to improve people’s well-being: Five ways to well-being

Measuring well-being Human system Ecosystem Resource demand Ecosystem well-being Human well-being Culture Social Capital Governance Economy Education Healthcare Natural Capital Biodiversity CO 2 emissions Soil erosion Water quality Air quality

GPI - ISEW Human system Ecosystem Resource demand Culture Social Capital Governance Economy Education Healthcare Natural Capital Biodiversity CO 2 emissions Soil erosion Water quality Air quality

Measuring well-being Human system Ecosystem Resource demand Ecosystem well-being Human well-being Culture Social Capital Governance Economy Education Healthcare Natural Capital Biodiversity CO 2 emissions Soil erosion Water quality Air quality

Happy Planet Index Human system Resource demand Human well-being Natural Capital Biodiversity CO 2 emissions Soil erosion Water quality Air quality

A Happy Planet Index

 Launched by nef in July 2006  HDI style rank order of nations  Measure of the “Ecological efficiency with which human well-being is delivered”  Over 1,000,000 downloads to date

HPI in Europe over time

HPI 2050: Sustainable Living % reduction in CO 2 emissions Life Expectancy 80yrs Life Satisfaction 8/10 Resource efficiency to improve by over 80%

Creating Timely Feedback Loops % reduction in CO 2 emissions Life Expectancy 80yrs Life Satisfaction 8/10 Resource efficiency to improve by over 80%

Measuring what matters  What do indicators actually indicate? A framework for indicators  Measuring Well-being: National Accounts of Well-being  Sustainable Well-being GPI - ISEW Happy Planet Index  How to improve people’s well-being: Five ways to well-being

Five Ways to Well-being “Develop a set of evidence based actions to improve personal well-being” Used Foresight’s five (draft) challenge reports: Learning through Life Mental Health Well-being and Work Learning Difficulties Mental Capital through Life Plus wider evidence from well-being literature

The Task We were asked to: Create Universal Appeal – eg different ages Target the Individual – not societal change or policy recommendation We stressed: The need for variety – to overcome adaptation – not a sense of duty

Five ways to well-being Connect… With the people around you. With family, friends, colleagues and neighbours. At home, work, school or in your local community. Think of these as the cornerstones of your life and invest time in developing them. Building these connections will support and enrich you every day.

Five ways to well-being Be active… Go for a walk or run. Step outside. Cycle. Play a game. Garden. Dance. Exercising makes you feel good. Most importantly, discover a physical activity you enjoy and that suits your level of mobility and fitness.

Five ways to well-being Take notice… Be curious. Catch sight of the beautiful. Remark on the unusual. Notice the changing seasons. Savour the moment, whether you are walking to work, eating lunch or talking to friends. Be aware of the world around you and what you are feeling. Reflecting on your experiences will help you appreciate what matters to you.

Five ways to well-being Keep learning… Try something new. Rediscover an old interest. Sign up for that course. Take on a different responsibility at work. Fix a bike. Learn to play an instrument or how to cook your favourite food. Set a challenge you will enjoy achieving. Learning new things will make you more confident as well as being fun.

Five ways to well-being Give… Do something nice for a friend, or a stranger. Thank someone. Smile. Volunteer your time. Join a community group. Look out, as well as in. Seeing yourself, and your happiness, linked to the wider community can be incredibly rewarding and creates connections with the people around you.

Four recent reports Measuring Wellbeing in Policy; Sam Thompson, Nic Marks; Foresight & nef; Oct 08 Local Wellbeing – can we measure it? ; Nicola Steuer, Nic Marks; Young Foundation & nef; Sept 08 Five Ways to Wellbeing: the evidence; Jody Aked, Nic Marks; Foresight & nef; Oct 08 National Accounts of Well-being; Juliet Michaelson, Saamah Abdallah, Nicola Steuer, Sam Thompson and Nic Marks; nef; January 2009 Forthcoming: Happy Planet Index; July 2009

National Accounts of Well-being Other reports downloadable from Nic Marks: