Well-being and Social Policy

29th June 2005Social Policy Association Conference, University of Bath

Nic Markshead of well-being researchnew economics foundation

Well-being and Social Policy

What do we mean by well-being? How is it measured? nef’s well-being manifesto Some data to support the policy ideas What is happening politically in the UK

about well-being What other projects nef are up to

What do we mean by “well-being”?

Well-being = People’s experience of their quality of life

WHO definition of health as: “A state of complete physical, mental and social well-being, and not merely an absence of disease or infirmity”: 1946

GDP and Life SatisfactionA Challenge to the Economic Status Quo

GDP and Life Satisfaction 1973 - 2002

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1973 1975 1977 1979 1981 1983 1985 1987 1989 1991 1993 1995 1997 1999 2001

Life Satisfaction

GDP

Well-being data

Most data is limited to Life Satisfaction, but it is pretty robust and useful.

– Converges with other measures– Predicts people’s behaviour consistently– Many predictors are malleable to policy

But note averages ‘hide’ a lot of variance. Micro-data illuminates this as well as challenging set-point theory & adaptation.

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Year of Widowhood

Micro data: Widowhood and Well-being

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nMicro data: Divorce and Well-being

Year of Divorce

Micro data: Marriages and Well-being

Marriage Paths of Life Satisfaction

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Years of Marriage

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Mean

Positive Group

Negative Group

Micro data: Widowhood and Well-being

Data from GSOP – German Panel Data – Rich Lucas

Lucas, R. E., Clark, A. E., Georgellis, Y., & Diener, E. (2003). Re-examining adaptation and the setpoint model of happiness: Reactions to changes in marital status. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 84, 527-539.

Lucas, R. E. (in press). Time does not heal all wounds. A longitudinal study of reaction and adaptation to divorce. Psychological Science.

A theory of personal well-being

Our Parents - 50%Our Circumstances - 10%Our Activities and Outlook - 40%

Sonja Lyubomirsky – The Architecture of Happiness

Why is well-being important for politics - right now?

Health Impacts:– Happy people live up to 7 years longer

Enterprise Impacts:– 2nd Dimension of Development and Curiosity =>

Entrepreneurship & Creativity

Citizenship Impacts:– Happy people are more generous, altruistic and

sociable – BUT beware of some independence!

Why is well-being important for Sustainable Development?

Material goods – little positive impact on people’s well-being.

Materialistic values – appear to undermine people’s well-being.

De-materialize and be happy?– Possible WIN – WIN situation.

Well-being and Policy

nef’s well-being manifesto:– launched Sept 2004

– covered eight areas of policy

– strategy was ‘to start a debate’

– designed to be ‘contagious’

Downloadable from: www.neweconomics.org

nef’s well-being manifesto1. Measure what matters

2. Create a well-being economy

3. Reclaim our time

4. Flourishing schools

5. Complete health for the nation

6. Invest in the very early years

7. Authentic advertising (and discourage materialism)

8. Community contribution

1. Measure what matters

Well-being matters, so we’d better measure it.

1. National well-being accounts.

2. Local Government well-being audits.

3. Regional Development Agencies – well-being economies.

4. Targeted academic and social research.

1. Will Measurement Matter?

Personal Impacts:– Informational – increasing awareness

and personal choice.

Social Impacts:– Encourage shifts in Cultural values.– Inform Policy changes

Environmental Impacts:– Strategic and Longer Term

2: Well-being Economy & Good Jobs

Experience at work and some key outcome variables

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LifeSatisfaction

WorkSatisfaction

Work LifeBalance

Satisfaction

OrganisationalPride

Intention toQuit

Low Interest - High Stress

Low Interest - Low Stress

High Interest - High Stress

High Interest - Low Stress

Source: “Good Jobs”; Nic Marks; CIPD report on “Employee well-being” June 2005; www.cipd.co.uk

2: Well-being economy & Unemployment

Effect of unemployment on People's Life Satisfaction

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Average Under 50s Over 50s Voluntary Involuntary

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Source: Winkelmann & Winkelmann: Why are the unemployed so unhappy?: Economica, 65, 1-15

3: Effect of Long Hours

Length of Working Week and Key Outcome Indicators

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Work Satisfaction Work Life BalanceSatisfaction

Intention to Quit (0-10)

Short Hours (less than 36)

Medium Hours (36 - 40)

Medium Long (41 - 45)

Long Hours (more than 45)

Source: “Good Jobs”; Nic Marks; CIPD report on “Employee well-being” June 2005; www.cipd.co.uk

4: Changing Schools?

Average Overall Well-being and School Satisfaction by Age

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Curiosity

School Satisfaction

Source: Power & potential of well-being indicators, Nic Marks; nef 2004

5: Health and Well-being

“Complete Health” for the Nation– NHS to re-focus on its true purpose

“complete physical, mental and social well-being” – WHO 1948.

– Interconnection between mental health and prevention

NHS should become a “National Health System” involving patients looking after their own well-being.

5: Health and Well-being

Longevity and Happiness– Happy people live up to 7 years longer, which is a

larger positive effect than body mass, smoking and physical exercise are negative.

The Unhappy-Well– Unhappy people have a lower ‘pain threshold’ and

are more likely to consider themselves ill. Also happier people absorb more health information.

Increased Risks– Risk of cardiovascular disease is estimated as

twice as high for people with depression, and 50% higher for the generally unhappy.

Health warning

nef Health WarningBeing HAPPY is seriously good for you and

others around you.

Happy and fulfilled people live up to seven years longer, have stronger social networks and are engaged in their

communities.

6: Children and Well-being

Invest in the very early years– Babies need a lot of individual attention– Parenthood is stressful– Too much nursery care can have

negative well-being effects on child.

Specific Policy Recommendations:– Shared parental leave for first 2 years– Supportive home visits for new parents– Reduce ratio of nursery staff:babies to

1:2 from current policy of 1:3

7: Effect of Materialism?

Materialistic Aspirations

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High Non-Material &High Material

High Non-Material &Low Material

Low Non-Material &High Material

Low Non-Material &Low Material

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Source: “High Price of Materialism”; Tim Kasser; 2002; Bradford Books, MIT Press, USA

8: Social Well-being

Measuring Social well-being• Belongingness• Trusting others and feeling others care for you• Pro-social behaviour / Contribution• Feelings about Societal development• Understanding or making sense of Societal Change

Following Corey Keyes

Social Well-being

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Belongingness

Trust others & care

Contribute to Society

Societal Progress

Understand Changes

USA Italy Ladakh

Well-being & UK politics

Sustainable Development Strategy – “Securing the future”

Scottish Executive Mental Health Agenda Children and Commercialisation

nef and well-being indicators

Health, Needs and Happiness - Dumfries and Galloway

Sustainable Well-being – WWF and nef

European Social Survey – 2006/7 – with Felicia Huppert, University of Cambridge

Well-being and Social Policy

What do we mean by well-being? How is it measured? Eight policy ideas Some data to support them! What is happening politically in the UK

about well-being What other projects nef are up to

Well-being and Social Policy

What can you do? Measure what matters. Assess the well-being effects of current

and potential policies. Consider the well-being implications of

all social policy. Don’t forget future generations!

Contact Details:Nic Marks

www.neweconomics.org

nic.marks@neweconomics.org