Wellbeing economy is a public policy framework in which the economy is designed to serve social, health, cultural, equity and nature outcomes.[1][2] The aim is to go beyond gross domestic product (GDP) as the main measure of national economic performance. Since the early 2000s there has been growing interest in wellbeing as a framework in research, measurement and policy.[3]
A number of countries have introduced wellbeing metrics to guide public policy decision-making and inform budgetary processes with a focus on education and skills, health, gender and inclusion.[3] The approach has been adopted as national policy in a number of countries including Scotland,[4] New Zealand, Iceland, Wales,[5] Finland and Canada which established the Wellbeing Economy Governments partnership (WEGo) in 2021.[6]
Intergovernmental organisations such as the World Health Organization (WHO) have also adopted wellbeing as a whole-of-government approach to meet complex social, environmental and public health challenges. This was first articulated in 2021 with the adoption of the Geneva Charter for Wellbeing.[7] and in May 2023 the WHO Assembly adopted A global framework for integrating well-being into public health utilizing a health promotion approach,[8]
Main article: Gross National Happiness |
Main article: Canadian Index of Wellbeing |
Main article: Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015 |
Main article: Sustainable Development Goals |