The Young Foundation in association with IDeA, Lord Richard Layard and 3 local authorities including Manchester council have produced a report 'The State of Happiness' on whether policy can influence wellbeing of citizens.The report suggests that, while there is a genetic influence on wellbeing and individuals tend to move around a set point,public policies can and do influence the overall distribution of wellbeing in a population, moving most people up (or down). In other words, average set points will tend to be higher in a nation (or a locality) with policies that support wellbeing.
The policy priorities:* lessons in schools to build up children's resilience
- health provision that gives as much weight to patient experience and wellbeing as to clinical outcomes (for example, through paying more attention to low level (social supports) community policies that encourage neighbours to get to know each other parenting programmes that deliberately try to support parents' wellbeing as well as their childrens' planning, transport and school policies that encourage more exercise systematic support to isolated older people to help them create and maintain social networks transport and economic policies that encourage lower commuting times apprenticeships and other programmes for teenagers that strengthen psychological fitness.The report summarises that policy alone set out with the goal of improving well being will likely fail but that if it is considered in terms of policy building it is likely to make an impact.
In contrast this report below in the Independant from 2006 indicates that the Danes are the happiest people in the world further study into reports around this have told me that they only occupy this space because their expectations are so low that when something good happens it is a lovely surprise.
Denmark Happiest Country in the World
As the Main Ingredient sang 'Happiness is just around the bend'
BBC report/programme hype looking at measuring happiness The science of happiness
"The measures are not perfect yet I think they are in many ways as good as the measures economists use,"
In the 19th Century nations were measured by the size of their armies and ability to wage war and defend their acquisitions
In the 20th Century nations were measured by the size of their economies and ability to raise funds/debt/credit
In the 21st Century is it possible that we may start to measure the states of our nations on wellbeing and the ability of nations to maintain the happiness of it's citizens?
Nicolas Sarkosy has outlined 10 measurable indicators that he has initially essentially linked to the wellbeing of the French Economy:
1. Work-life balance - what is the ratio of number of hours worked to leisure time?
2. Traffic congestion - buying petrol may help the economy but sitting in a traffic jam increases pollution
3. Mood - people will be asked to record how much time is spent feeling happy or sad
4. Chores - do people have enough time to carry out childcare, cleaning and DIY?
5. Recycling - living a more sustainable life reduces the impact on the planet
6. Gratification - is life filled with short-term gratification or more fulfilling long term satisfaction?
7. Insecurity -are people feeling financially secure and safe in their homes?
8. Gender - are men and women treated fairly in the workplace and home?
9. Tax - does everyone get their money's worth from the government?
10. Relationships - do people have time to see friends and relatives regularly?
The measures and indicators may (will) change, but does all this focus on happiness mean that the slow tide of change is comming and by the end of the 21st century we may be discussing the might of our wellbeing?
Really interesting in lots of ways.
Also kind of relates to my post about Germany & the feeling that the banking crash & Iraq have suddenly made a lot of recent Anglo Saxon thinking look, well, well dodgy. Perhaps France and Germany, and the Scandanavians of course, have the ideas that matter.
Further to my other recent posts here is another report on wellbeing this time looking at the state of happiness amongst 10 - 15 year olds
Understanding Children's well-being
In conclusion it emphasises a number key points; that it is the strength of a child's relationships that can have a significant effect on their state of happiness, that the older they become the more unhappier they become, children often relate unhappiness to their self-image and esteem so the lower this is more unhappy they are. The structures of their schools and families has little impact on their happiness as long as the relationships in these structures are stable and good.
I can relate heavily to this last point. My father died when I was 1 years old leaving my mum a dinner lady to bring 3 young boys up on her own in an estate in Carlisle. My childhood was happy, loving and good despite having little money and going to a school in the poorer end of the City, through academic encouragement, love, sport and music my self esteem was maintained to a high enough degree that I rarely remember feeling sad, and when events did occur that would have an effect on me I had the support and health to learn from them.
Really interesting and well done to Mum. Would that such people got more recognition.
The pursuit of happiness wil soon rest on a cool avatar, and fibre optic super fast broadband.
Teenagers who are always on line and disengaged with the 'real' world will be the judges of are we having fun yet.....
Anna Eagin will see her childern learning to fly, and simply use the world of walls and jobs as fuel for an inner vison that becomes the place they live in virtual happiness 24/7. But then thats just my opinion.....
Hi Ken, you have a valid point in terms of what life are we measuring in the same way that developments in armaments from the 17th century to the 19th century were unimaginable at the beginning of the period.
Sarkosy's 10 indicators or tests are populist based on the world of today. If nations are really going to compare themselves on the state of their well being the criteria on what we measure that will have changed immeasurably and could potentially include the health and wellbeing of ones virtual self.
Below is an article on an EU commissioned report from last year that encourages game use for children. Unfortunately it does not state the pleasure and happiness gained from playing, maybe they took that as a gimmie.
Video games are good for children
Here is a link to the National Accounts of Well Being summary and web pages (via a link)
Not only does it contain some great graphics but a European league table of 22 countries. Britain comes 13th out of the 22 but the results also reveal that people in the UK aged 16-24 report the lowest level of trust and belonging a key element of social well-being anywhere in Europe, perhaps due to the rise of a highly individualistic culture in the UK.
Belonging, a strange word. A feeling of happiness associated with being part of an organisation or movement with other people that leads to significant positive emotional responses and recollections. Sounds good to me!!