The wellbeing of nations : meaning, motive and measurement

"What is national wellbeing and what is progress? Why measure these definitions? Why are measures beyond economic performance needed and how will they be used? How do we measure national wellbeing & turn the definitions into observable quantities? Where are we now and where to next? These questions are asked and answered in this much needed, timely book. The Wellbeing of Nations provides an accessible and comprehensive overview of the measurement of national well-being, examining whether national wellbeing is more than the sum of the wellbeing of everyone in the country, and identifying and reviewing requirements for new measures. It begins with definitions, describes how to operationalize those definitions, and takes a critical look at the uses to which such measures are to be put. The authors examine initiatives from around the world, using the UK 'measuring national wellbeing programme' as a case study throughout the book, along with case studies drawn from other countries, as well as discussion of the position in some countries not yet drawn into the national wellbeing scene"-- "Provides signposting to resources to be used in the development of sources, analyses and summary measures of national wellbeing and progress"-- � Read more... Abstract: What is national wellbeing and what is progress? Why measure these definitions? Why are measures beyond economic performance needed and how will they be used? How do we measure national wellbeing & turn the definitions into observable quantities? Where are we now and where to next? This book deals with these questions. � Read more... The Wellbeing of Nations 3 Contents 7 List of tables and figures 10 Preface 11 Reference 12 1 What is national wellbeing and why measure it? 13 1.1 Motivation: Why measure wellbeing? 15 1.2 What is individual wellbeing? 20 1.3 Aspects of individual wellbeing 23 1.4 How to measure individual wellbeing? 28 1.4.1 Basics of measurement 28 1.4.2 What is measured matters 30 1.5 Properties of measurements 33 1.5.1 Validity 33 1.5.2 Reliability 34 1.6 Objective or subjective? 34 1.7 Combining multiple aspects 35 1.8 What is national wellbeing? 38 1.9 And how to measure national wellbeing? 39 1.10 Structure of the book 42 References 43 2 A short history of national wellbeing and its measurement 47 2.1 The good society and philosophies of the role of government, from ancient times 48 2.2 Utilitarianism 51 2.3 The American constitution 53 2.4 Official statistics – statistics about the state and about the state of society 54 2.5 National accounts and GDP 56 2.6 More to life than GDP 63 2.7 Social indicator movement and measuring quality of life 65 2.8 Health and wellbeing 68 2.9 Rise of measurement of psychological wellbeing (life satisfaction, happiness, worthwhile lives) 70 2.10 The Easterlin paradox 73 2.11 Taking note of the change in the quality of the goods and services we use 74 2.12 Capability approach to quality of life (Sen) and the human development index 75 2.13 Social capital and public value 77 2.14 Limits to growth and sustainable development indicators 79 2.14.1 Sustainable development indicators 81 2.14.2 Green growth indicators 84 2.14.3 Natural resource accounting 85 2.15 Commentary 87 References 89 3 Recent developments: Towards economic, social and environmental accounts 95 3.1 Mismeasuring our lives: The report by the Commission on the Measurement of Economic Performance and Social Progress 97 3.2 Replacing the Millennium Development Goals 102 3.3 A new global movement? 105 3.4 Commentary 116 References 122 4 Measuring individual wellbeing 127 4.1 On quantification 131 4.2 Single measures of wellbeing 135 4.3 Combining aspects of wellbeing 137 4.3.1 Causes, effects, and correlates 138 4.3.2 Subjective components of wellbeing 139 4.3.3 Weighted sums 141 4.4 Components of individual wellbeing 144 4.5 The frailty of memory 149 4.6 The devils in the details 150 4.7 Conclusion 154 References 155 5 Preparing to measure national wellbeing 158 5.1 Towards a user requirement for measures of national wellbeing and progress 159 5.2 Towards a framework to measure the progress of societies 164 5.3 Constructing measures of progress and national wellbeing: Identifying and meeting user requirements 172 5.4 Commentary 178 References 180 6 How to measure national wellbeing? 183 6.1 Drawing on the national economic accounts 184 6.2 Extending the national accounts 193 6.2.1 Consider income and consumption jointly with wealth 195 6.2.2 Give more prominence to the distribution of income, consumption and wealth 197 6.2.3 Broaden income measures to nonmarket activities 199 6.3 Indicator sets describing social and environmental conditions relating to wellbeing 202 6.3.1 Improve measures of people's health, education, personal activities and environmental conditions 203 6.3.2 Quality-of-life indicators in all the dimensions covered should assess inequalities in a comprehensive way 205 6.3.3 Surveys should be designed to assess the links between various quality-of-life domains for each person, and this information should be used when designing policies in various fields 205 6.3.4 Statistical offices should provide the information needed to aggregate across quality-of-life dimensions, allowing the construction of different indexes 206 6.3.5 Sustainability assessment requires a well-identified dashboard of indicators 211 6.3.6 The environmental aspects of sustainability deserve a separate follow-up based on a well-chosen set of physical indicators 215 6.4 Survey-based data on subjective wellbeing 216 6.5 Developments in measuring national wellbeing and progress around the world 217 6.6 Important issues in the measurement of national wellbeing 221 References 224 7 Wellbeing policy and measurement in the UK 229 References 245 8 Conclusions 248 8.1 Progress 248 8.2 Measuring wellbeing 253 8.3 New technologies, new data? 256 8.4 Beyond the economy 257 8.5 The future 261 References 262 Appendix: Sources of methods and measures of wellbeing and progress 265 Cross-national measures 265 Cross-national developments and methodologies 266 National, regional and local measures of wellbeing and progress 270 Further reading 281 Index 283 EULA 291 What Is National Wellbeing And What Is Progress? Why Measure These Definitions? Why Are Measures Beyond Economic Performance Needed And How Will They Be Used? How Do We Measure National Wellbeing & Turn The Definitions Into Observable Quantities? Where Are We Now And Where To Next? These Questions Are Asked And Answered In This Much Needed, Timely Book. The Wellbeing Of Nations Provides An Accessible And Comprehensive Overview Of The Measurement Of National Well-being, Examining Whether National Wellbeing Is More Than The Sum Of The Wellbeing Of Everyone In The Country, And Identifying And Reviewing Requirements For New Measures. It Begins With Definitions, Describes How To Operationalize Those Definitions, And Takes A Critical Look At The Uses To Which Such Measures Are To Be Put. The Authors Examine Initiatives From Around The World, Using The Uk 'measuring National Wellbeing Programme' As A Case Study Throughout The Book, Along With Case Studies Drawn From Other Countries, As Well As Discussion Of The Position In Some Countries Not Yet Drawn Into The National Wellbeing Scene-- Provides Signposting To Resources To Be Used In The Development Of Sources, Analyses And Summary Measures Of National Wellbeing And Progress-- Machine Generated Contents Note: Chapter 1: What Is National Wellbeing And Why Measure It? 1.1 Motivation: Why Measure Wellbeing? 1.2 What Is Individual Wellbeing? 1.3 Aspects Of Individual Wellbeing 1.4 How To Measure Individual Wellbeing 1.4.1 Basics Of Measurement 1.4.2 What Is Measured Matters 1.5 Properties Of Measurements 1.5.1 Validity 1.5.2 Reliability 1.6 Objective Or Subjective? 1.7 Combining Multiple Aspects 1.8 What Is National Wellbeing? 1.9 And How To Measure National Wellbeing 1.10 Structure Of The Book References Chapter 2: A Short History Of National Wellbeing And Its Measurement 2.1 The Good Society And Philosophies Of The Role Of Government, From Ancient Times 2.2 Utilitarianism 2.3 The American Constitution 2.4 Official Statistics --^ Statistics About The State And About The State Of Society 2.5 National Accounts And Gdp 2.6 More To Life Than Gdp 2.7 Social Indicator Movement And Measuring Quality Of Life 2.8 Health And Wellbeing 2.9 Rise Of Measurement Of Psychological Wellbeing (life Satisfaction, Happiness, Worthwhile Lives) 2.10 The Easterlin Paradox 2.11 Taking Note Of The Change In The Quality Of The Goods And Services We Use 2.12 Capabilities Approach To Quality Of Life (sen) And The Human Development Index 2.13 Social Capital And Public Value 2.14 Limits To Growth And Sustainable Development Indicators 2.15 Commentary References Chapter 3: Recent Developments: Towards Economic,^ Social And Environmental Accounts 3.1 Mis-measuring Our Lives: The Report By The Commission On The Measurement Of Economic Performance And Social Progress 3.2 Replacing The Millennium Development Goals 3.3 A New Global Movement? 3.4 Commentary References Chapter 4: Measuring Individual Wellbeing 4.1 On Quantification 4.2 Single Measures Of Wellbeing 4.3 Combining Aspects Of Wellbeing 4.3.1 Causes, Effects, And Correlates 4.3.2 Subjective Components Of Wellbeing 4.3.3 Weighted Sums 4.4 Components Of Individual Wellbeing 4.5 The Frailty Of Memory 4.6 The Devil's In The Details 4.7 Conclusion References Chapter 5: Preparing To Measure National Wellbeing 5.1 Towards A User Requirement For Measures Of National Wellbeing And Progress 5.2 Towards A Framework To Measure The Progress Of Societies 5.3 Constructing Measures Of Progress And National Wellbeing: Identifying And Meeting User Requirements 5.4 Commentary References Chapter 6.^ How To Measure National Wellbeing 6.1 Drawing On The National Economic Accounts 6.2 Extending The National Accounts 6.3 Indicator Sets Describing Social And Environmental Conditions Relating To Wellbeing 6.4 Survey-based Data On Subjective Wellbeing 6.5 Developments In Measuring National Wellbeing And Progress Around The World 6.6 Important Issues In The Measurement Of National Wellbeing References Chapter 7: Wellbeing Policy And Measurement In The Uk Chapter 8: Conclusions 8.1 Progress? 8.2 Measuring Wellbeing 8.3 New Technologies, New Data 8.4 Beyond The Economy 8.5 The Future References Annex: Sources Of Methods And Measures Of Wellbeing And Progress Index . Paul Allin And David J. Hand. Includes Bibliographical References And Index.

What is national wellbeing and what is progress?Why measure these definitions?Why are measures beyond economic performance needed and how will they be used? How do we measure national wellbeing & turn the definitions into observable quantities? Where are we now and where to next? These questions are asked and answered in this much needed, timely book. The Wellbeing of Nations provides an accessible and comprehensive overview of the measurement of national well-being, examining whether national wellbeing is more than the sum of the wellbeing of everyone in the country, and identifying and reviewing requirements for new measures. It begins with definitions, describes how to operationalize those definitions, and takes a critical look at the uses to which such measures are to be put. The authors examine initiatives from around the world, using the UK 'measuring national wellbeing programme' as a case study throughout the book, along with case studies drawn from other countries, as well as discussion of the position in some countries not yet drawn into the national wellbeing scene.