Wellbeing economy is a public policy framework in which the economy is designed to serve social, health, cultural, equity and nature outcomes.[1][2] The aim is to go beyond gross domestic product (GDP) as the main measure of national economic performance. Since the early 2000s there has been growing interest in wellbeing as a framework in research, measurement and policy.[3]

National and international adoption edit

A number of countries have introduced wellbeing metrics to guide public policy decision-making and inform budgetary processes with a focus on education and skills, health, gender and inclusion.[3] The approach has been adopted as national policy in a number of countries including Scotland,[4] New Zealand, Iceland, Wales,[5] Finland and Canada which established the Wellbeing Economy Governments partnership (WEGo) in 2021.[6]

Intergovernmental organisations such as the World Health Organization (WHO) have also adopted wellbeing as a whole-of-government approach to meet complex social, environmental and public health challenges. This was first articulated in 2021 with the adoption of the Geneva Charter for Wellbeing.[7] and in May 2023 the WHO Assembly adopted A global framework for integrating well-being into public health utilizing a health promotion approach,[8]

Notable examples edit

Australia edit

Bhutan edit

Canada edit

Finland edit

Germany edit

Iceland edit

Netherlands edit

New Zealand edit

United Kingdom edit

England edit

Scotland edit

Wales edit

United Nations Sustainable Development Goals edit

See also edit

External links edit

OECD Better Life Initiative

International Wellbeing Economy Alliance (WEAll) group

References edit

  1. ^ McCartney, Gerry; Hensher, Martin; Trebeck, Katherine (2023-07-05). "How to measure progress towards a wellbeing economy: distinguishing genuine advances from 'window dressing'". Public Health Research & Practice. 33 (2). doi:10.17061/phrp3322309.
  2. ^ Fioramonti, Lorenzo; Coscieme, Luca; Costanza, Robert; Kubiszewski, Ida; Trebeck, Katherine; Wallis, Stewart; Roberts, Debra; Mortensen, Lars F.; Pickett, Kate E.; Wilkinson, Richard; Ragnarsdottír, Kristín Vala; McGlade, Jacqueline; Lovins, Hunter; De Vogli, Roberto (2022). "Wellbeing economy: An effective paradigm to mainstream post-growth policies?". Ecological Economics. 192: 107261. doi:10.1016/j.ecolecon.2021.107261. hdl:11577/3452652.
  3. ^ a b Nozal, Ana Llena; Martin, Neil; Martin, Fabrice. The Economy of Well-being: Creating Opportunities for People's Well-being and Economic Growth (Report). OECD.
  4. ^ "Building a New Scotland: A stronger economy with independence - summary". www.gov.scot. Scottish Government. Retrieved 2023-10-07.
  5. ^ "Wellbeing of Wales". Government of Wales. September 28, 2023.
  6. ^ "Wellbeing Economy Governments (WEGO)". Wellbeing Economy Alliance. Retrieved 2023-10-07.
  7. ^ The Geneva Charter for Well-being (Report). World Health Organisation.
  8. ^ Achieving well-being: a global framework for integrating well-being into public health utilizing a health promotion approach (Report). World Health Organisation. 30 May 2023.