Module 6: Measuring wellbeing
Acting as a mirror
Whereas wellbeing visions set out the desired destination, the purpose of wellbeing measurement frameworks is to act as a mirror and to enable a comparison of desired outcomes with current performance. Wellbeing measurement frameworks concretise the wellbeing vision, by specifying ‘what good looks like’ for each of the desired high-level outcomes and by painting a picture of how current outcomes are tracking against this. In turn, this enables the identification of priorities for change as well as strengths to build on.
Using wellbeing frameworks to set overarching government priorities is an important lever to translate wellbeing visions and frameworks into policy action. Defining an overarching set of wellbeing priorities for government supports a more coherent and integrated approach in the move towards a wellbeing economy. Siloed government systems in which each ministry or department works towards its own set of objectives provide few incentives for departments to invest in outcomes that fall under the responsibility of other departments [1] [2]. An overarching set of wellbeing priorities makes wellbeing the joint responsibility of all government departments, prompting public bodies to align their own sectoral objectives with overarching wellbeing goals.
Several governments have used their wellbeing measurement frameworks to identify overarching wellbeing priorities, which in turn shapes government decisions about budgets and policy development more generally.
Case studies.
Click on the Case Study cards to find out more about how the governments of Iceland and New Zealand have gone about this process.
References:
[1] APPG (2014), Wellbeing in four policy areas, All Party Parliamentary Group on Wellbeing Economics, London, https://b.3cdn.net/nefoundation/ccdf9782b6d8700f7c_lcm6i2ed7.pdf (accessed on 7 April 2021).
[2] OECD (2021), COVID-19 and Well-being: Life in the Pandemic, Chapter 1 Building back better lives: Using a well-being lens to refocus, redesign, realign and reconnect. Paris: OECD Publishing, https://doi.org/10.1787/1e1ecb53-en.