1. Eurostat project on the measure of well-being Pascal Wolff, Eurostat D1
Meeting of the Strategic Development Group Brussels, 3 July 2008
Agenda point 2
3 July 2008

2. Eurostat study on the measure of well-being
Contents
Background
Objectives of the study
First results
Selection of approaches
Consultation of experts
Next steps
3 July 2008
Eurostat study on the measure of well-being

3. Eurostat study on the measure of well-being
Background
A growing demand for well-being measures
Beyond GDP: request for well-being indicators
OECD global project on measuring the progress of societies
Sustainable development strategy
A definition for sustainable development: “Continuous improvement of well-being for present and future generations”
3 July 2008
Eurostat study on the measure of well-being

4. Objectives of the study
A FEASIBILITY study
Not re-inventing the wheel … but reviewing existing approaches
Gather concrete data
Make recommendations
Possible use: SDS monitoring report, etc…
3 July 2008
Eurostat study on the measure of well-being

5. Eurostat study on the measure of well-being
Focus of the study
Present and experienced well-being
Includes determinants of well-being, for today and tomorrow
But excludes predictions of future well-being
3 July 2008
Eurostat study on the measure of well-being

6. ? Timeline Dec. 2007 July 2008 June 2009 Dec. 2009 Contract signed
Review of approaches
Selection of 3 approaches
Results and recommendations
Testing
3 July 2008
Eurostat study on the measure of well-being

7. Selection of approaches
Literature review
Conceptual note (concepts, categories, domains, needs)
Analysis of 50 approaches (see annex)
Evaluation criteria
Based on ESS quality dimensions (relevance, accuracy, comparability, availability)
Used for selection of approaches
9 approaches presented to a workshop with experts
3 July 2008
Eurostat study on the measure of well-being

8. 9 approaches discussed in the workshop
Subjective approaches
Life satisfaction
Positive/negative affect schedule
Psychological needs scale
Objective approaches
Human development index
Index of human well-being
Quality of life index
Combined approaches
Happy life expectancy
‘The economist’ quality of life index
Set of well-being measures
3 July 2008
Eurostat study on the measure of well-being

9. Eurostat study on the measure of well-being
Next steps
Only a feasibility study but some questions
Further subjective measures needed
A module in the upcoming European Household Survey?
Official statistics and composite indicators
Attract public and media interest
Methodological arbitrariness (variables, weighting, transparency)
Another set of indicators?
3 July 2008
Eurostat study on the measure of well-being

10. Eurostat study on the measure of well-being
Thank you for your attention
3 July 2008
Eurostat study on the measure of well-being