Post on 17-Jan-2016
Understandings of well-being: Implications for public policy
Joanne Wilson & Lindsay Prior
School of Sociology, Social Policy and Social Work,
Queen’s University Belfast
jwilson09@qub.ac.uk or joanne.wilson@publichealth.ie
l.prior@qub.ac.uk
QUB-Stormont exchange seminar Series, 5th July 2012
Overview
Context
What is well-being? The individual versus the common good
Reporting well-being: Facts and figures
Well-being in policy
A well-being framework: Future directions
Context: Well-being requires work
Context: From antiquity and beyond
‘Somewhere between Plato and Prozac, happiness stopped being a lofty achievement
and became an entitlement’
(Schoch, 2007, p.1)
Context: A quick fix?
Context: Life satisfaction and GDP
Context: The call for subjective indicators
Report by the
CMEPSP
National accounts of well-being
Well-being matters
Context: Gross national happiness
‘The essence of the philosophy of Gross National Happiness is the peace and happiness of our people and the security and sovereignty
of the nation’
What is well-being?
Medicine = positive state of health; defined in terms of physical functioning
Economics = position of wealth; defined in terms of GDP, preference realisation, utility
Psychology = positive state of being; defined in terms of cognitions, affectivity
What is well-being?
1) A state: a person’s current state of being e.g. healthy, happy
2) A process: an evaluation of either being well or being ill
3) An outcome: a product of how we feel at a given point in time
What is well-being?
Figure 2: Conceptual map
of well-being
The individual good
Hedonic perspectives: BenthamUtilitarianGreatest happiness and life satisfaction for majority
Eudaimonic perspectives:AristotleFlourishingPurpose and meaning
The individual good
‘… what is true for the individual is not true for the society as a whole’
(Easterlin, 1973)
The common good
Well-being can not be understood by reference to individuals alone
Considers those processes and structures which impact on the common good and measured using indices of inequality, environmental degradation
Capabilities approach:
- role of public institutions
- importance of rights and values
What is well-being?
‘Well-being is a positive physical, social and mental state. It requires that basic needs are met, that individuals have a sense of purpose, that they feel able to live the lives they value
and have reason to value’
(NESC, 2009)
Reporting well-being: Facts and figures
DemographicsTotal population: 1.799.4 million
Population change since 1995: 139,800 (7.8%)
2009/10 lone parents increased from 11% to 28%
Fiscal circumstancesTotal working age population:1.109.1 million (61.1%)
801,000 in employment; 6.7% unemployed
In 2011, both GVA in NI and UK annual GDP 0.8%
Reporting well-being: Facts and figures
Reporting well-being: Facts and figures
Relationships Marriages increased 5.1% since 1995 Divorces increased 11.5% since 1995
Health Life expectancy 2006-08 males (76.4) and
females (81.3) 289 suicides in 2011 18.3% increase in drug and alcohol related
deaths (2001-2011)
Reporting well-being: Facts and figures
Environment: 76% households concerned
Internet 67% households own a house and a computer Broadband access highest in the least deprived
areas
Trust 62% NICS 2010/11 believe crime increased Greater fear of crime than England and Wales
Reporting well-being: Facts and figures
Northern Ireland
Life satisfaction 7.6/10
Worthwhile 7.8/10
Happy yesterday 7.5/10
Anxious yesterday 3.2/10
Source: Annual population survey (APS) – ONS
Well-being in policy
Individual good Insight as to how people feel their lives are goingAvoids paternalism What individuals want and need to improve their well-being
‘faulty perceptions’
Well-being in policy
Individual bad Promotes individual good at expense of
common good Ignores structures and processes Measurement issues (mood, timing, question
order & wording)
Well-being in policy
Common good Shows that there are common goods to be
shared Emphasises structures and processes Emphasises interdependence between
individual agency and social structures
Well-being in policy
Common bad Some conceptualisations still individualistic Ideological, difficult to define, measure and
monitor Need to consider the unit of the common good
which impacts differentially on individuals
Institutions
A well-being framework: Future directions
Intrapersonal
Interpersonal
NESC (2009). Well-being matters. A social report for
Ireland
A well-being framework: Future directions
A well-being framework: Future directions
Individual good:
1. Adequate income
2. Meaningful activity
3. ‘Nudge’ – choice architecture
4. Work-life balance
5. Affordable facilities for recreation
6. Support for independent living
A well-being framework: Future directions
Common good:
1. Sustainable development
2. Equal distribution of income
3. Participation rate
4. Viable education system
5. Affordable health care system
6. Occupancy rates
7. Cooperative economy
8. Trade unions
Thank you
Questions?