Module 7: Building a wellbeing economy movement
Creating space for imagination, co-creation and experimentation
When working towards a wellbeing economy, it isn’t always clear which strategies or interventions will work or not. It asks for combining an experimental approach with robust evaluations of ‘what works’.
Several governments have created dedicated spaces for civic innovation and experimentation. For example:
Mexico City's Laboratorio para la Ciudad (Laboratory for the City or LabCDMX) worked with communities, the government, civil society organisations, academics and the private sector to co-create innovative solutions to the city’s challenges. It generated a movement of urban laboratories that spread through Latin America.
In Bologna (Italy), the Fondazione Innovazione Urbana (the Urban Innovation Foundation) promotes listening, collaboration, participation, and co-production related to projects and policies in the city. The specific focus is on the care for and regeneration of urban common goods.
When it comes to policy evaluation and finding 'what works', an inspiring example comes from the United Kindgdom where 'What Works' centres are funded by the government to help feed evidence on what works into the policymaking process.
Click on the case study cards to find out more about each of these initiatives:
