For policy makers

For policy makers

“The gross national product measures everything except that which makes life worthwhile. Robert Kennedy

A Wellbeing Economy seeks to move Beyond GDP to define societal success not purely by financial measures, but by what research tells us truly matters to people: our wellbeing.

The World Wellbeing Movement’s operating model

Connecting the dots

The World Wellbeing Movement is housed within the Wellbeing Research Centre at the University of Oxford, which also serves as its lead academic partner.

The World Wellbeing Movement is an impact organisation working at the intersection between academic experts, and decision-makers in both business and policy to translate evidence-informed wellbeing insights into real-world impact.

Why wellbeing?

Wellbeing is about how we are doing as individuals and communities and this is what ultimately matters. It can be measured through a bottom-up approach by asking people directly how they feel about their work or their satisfaction with life as a whole.

Effectively measuring wellbeing has far-reaching potential for the three Ps: Purpose in business, People and the Planet.

Wellbeing & Purpose

Purpose-led organisations positively impact the communities they serve, from customer satisfaction to employee wellbeing and beyond. This is the cornerstone for superior long-run performance.

Wellbeing & People

Unlike GDP and income, a bottom-up measure of wellbeing empowers citizens and puts their holistic interests at the heart of evidence-based policy-making to improve the quality of life for everyone.

Wellbeing & Planet

Sustainable development is intertwined with the wellbeing of current and future generations. Applying a wellbeing lens to environmental policies helps the necessary transition to a greener and happier economy.

4th Century BCE

Aristotle suggests that “eudaimonia” is the goal or telos of human life. For Aristotle, eudaimonia is the highest human good, the only human good that is desirable for its own sake rather than as a means to some other end.

4th Century BCE

Aristotle suggests that “eudaimonia” is the goal or telos of human life. For Aristotle, eudaimonia is the highest human good, the only human good that is desirable for its own sake rather than as a means to some other end.

1776

Jeremy Bentham advocates that societies should orient themselves towards the ‘greatest happiness of the greatest number’ (in ‘A Fragment on Government’).

1776

Jeremy Bentham advocates that societies should orient themselves towards the ‘greatest happiness of the greatest number’ (in ‘A Fragment on Government’).

1934

Simon Kuznets introduces measure of GDP but warns against its use as a single measure of a nation’s economic health. He tells the US Congress in 1937: “The welfare of a nation can, therefore, scarcely be inferred from a measurement of national income…”

1934

Simon Kuznets introduces measure of GDP but warns against its use as a single measure of a nation’s economic health. He tells the US Congress in 1937: “The welfare of a nation can, therefore, scarcely be inferred from a measurement of national income…”

2012

The first World Happiness Report is released in April 2012 as a foundational text for the UN High Level Meeting: Well-being and Happiness: Defining a New Economic Paradigm, drawing international attention.

2012

The first World Happiness Report is released in April 2012 as a foundational text for the UN High Level Meeting: Well-being and Happiness: Defining a New Economic Paradigm, drawing international attention.

2014

Care Act in the UK enshrines wellbeing as a goal for local councils.

2014

Care Act in the UK enshrines wellbeing as a goal for local councils.

2018

UK’s HM Treasury Green Book openly accepts wellbeing as a valid objective for new policies.

2018

UK’s HM Treasury Green Book openly accepts wellbeing as a valid objective for new policies.

2019

The Wellbeing Research Centre is founded at the University of Oxford under the direction of Professor Jan-Emmanuel De Neve.

2019

The Wellbeing Research Centre is founded at the University of Oxford under the direction of Professor Jan-Emmanuel De Neve.

2021

The Norwegian Government announces that it will develop a new national strategy for wellbeing.

2021

The Norwegian Government announces that it will develop a new national strategy for wellbeing.

2022

World Wellbeing Movement launches, counting the University of Oxford’s Wellbeing Research Centre and leading corporate organisations among its founding members.

2022

World Wellbeing Movement launches, counting the University of Oxford’s Wellbeing Research Centre and leading corporate organisations among its founding members.

1689

John Locke argues in ‘Essays Concerning Human Understanding’ that the highest perfection of intellectual nature lies in a careful and constant pursuit of true and solid happiness.

1689

John Locke argues in ‘Essays Concerning Human Understanding’ that the highest perfection of intellectual nature lies in a careful and constant pursuit of true and solid happiness.

1776

United States Declaration of Independence reflects Bentham’s tradition by speaking of ‘life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness’ as inalienable rights.

1776

United States Declaration of Independence reflects Bentham’s tradition by speaking of ‘life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness’ as inalienable rights.

1974

The Easterlin Paradox is proposed by Richard A Easterlin, the first economist to study happiness data. He observes that, though higher incomes are associated with higher levels of happiness, average happiness does not appear to increase with increases in average income.

1974

The Easterlin Paradox is proposed by Richard A Easterlin, the first economist to study happiness data. He observes that, though higher incomes are associated with higher levels of happiness, average happiness does not appear to increase with increases in average income.

2011

Office for National Statistics (ONS) introduces four survey questions to the Annual Population Survey in order to measure ‘personal well-being’. Known as the ONS4, these questions continue to provide the best national estimates of individual wellbeing in the UK.

2011

Office for National Statistics (ONS) introduces four survey questions to the Annual Population Survey in order to measure ‘personal well-being’. Known as the ONS4, these questions continue to provide the best national estimates of individual wellbeing in the UK.

2018

WEAll (the Wellbeing Economy Alliance) is formally launched at the OECD’s World Forum in Incheon, South Korea, in 2018. Membership of the group has grown since its foundation to include Scotland, Wales, Iceland, New Zealand, and Finland.

2018

WEAll (the Wellbeing Economy Alliance) is formally launched at the OECD’s World Forum in Incheon, South Korea, in 2018. Membership of the group has grown since its foundation to include Scotland, Wales, Iceland, New Zealand, and Finland.

2019

New Zealand unveils its first “wellbeing budget” under Jacinda Ardern’s Labour-led coalition government.

2019

New Zealand unveils its first “wellbeing budget” under Jacinda Ardern’s Labour-led coalition government.

2021

Canada includes a wellbeing/quality of life framework in their 2021 budget.

2021

Canada includes a wellbeing/quality of life framework in their 2021 budget.

2022

For the first time the New Zealand Treasury publishes a Wellbeing Report, which uses the country’s updated Living Standards Framework to assess the effects of Governmental policy on quality of life.

2022

For the first time the New Zealand Treasury publishes a Wellbeing Report, which uses the country’s updated Living Standards Framework to assess the effects of Governmental policy on quality of life.