The new economics foundation
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About
The new economics foundation (nef) was founded in 1986 and is an independent think-and-do tank that inspires and demonstrates real economic well-being. nef works on issues related to economic, environmental and social topics and finds solutions to related problems in for example creating new ways of measuring progress with a focus that puts people and the planet first. nef aims to work with all sections of society, including members of civil society groups, government, individuals, businesses and academia. [1][2]
Centre for Well-Being
The centre for well-being at nef seeks to understand, measure and influence well-being. In particular it asks the question 'what would policymaking and the economy look like if their main aim were to promote well-being?'
Its key publications include:
Measuring our progress: The power of well-being
In November 2010 the British Prime Minister, David Cameron, asked the Office of National Statistics to start a debate on national well-being in the United Kingdom, and to find ways to measure it. This report is an attempt by nef to describe what will be needed.
Measuring our progress describes a successful society as "one in which people have high levels of well-being which is sustained over time." The report describes its suggestions on how to measure well-being, how well-being data can affect public policy, definitions of key terms in this process, and recommendations for the UK government on how to proceed in creating surveys and indicators, and collecting data for use by policy-makers and the public.[2]
The Happy Planet Index
The Happy Planet Index (HPI) is an innovative index able to combine environmental impact with well-being to measure the environmental efficiency with which country by country, people live long and happy lives.
The HPI is best conceived as a measure of the environmental efficiency of supporting well-being in a given country. It shows that there doesn’t exist a reliable connection between increasing levels of resource consumption and high levels of well-being but that it is possible to produce high well-being without excessive consumption of the Earth’s resources. It doesn’t reveal ‘happiest’ country in the world, but it is able to explain the relative efficiency with which nations can convert the planet’s natural resources into long and happy lives for their citizens. 143 Countries were included in the measurements. (See full article here: Happy Planet Index)
National Accounts of Well-being
In January 2009, the new economics foundation launched the National Accounts of Well-Being (NAWB): a radical robust proposal to guide the direction of modern societies. The NAWB were created in reaction to the fact that indicators such as GDP only reflect a narrow perspective of human welfare. NAWB also result from the fact that such indicators as GDP have hidden other vital parts of economy such as economy of family, neighborhood, community and society, and the natural economy of biosphere, oceans, forests and fields. (See full article here: National Accounts of Well-being)
Backing the Future - Why investing in children is good for us all
The publication makes the argument that the UK could save billions and avoid many future social problems by investing in a preventive manner in children and young people. The report concludes that governments must make it a priority to invest in targeted interventions for the most vulnerable children to avoid the vicious intergenerational cycle of deprivation. They should also invest in high-quality universal chilcare services and paid parental leave and, thirdly, reshape the services for children and youth work so that they can benefit most of it.(See full report here: Backing the Future)
Five Ways to Well-being
Based on the latest scientific evidence, nef developed a set of five simple actions which can improve well-being in everyday life.
Media
Nic Marks discusses the Happy Planet Index at TEDGlobal
Nic Marks on the Happiness Manifesto at TEDx Danubia 2011
The Economics of Happiness trailor:
Related event:
Event:The Economics of Happiness
See Also
- Measuring our progress - The power of well-being
- United Kingdom
- Indicators
- Happy Planet Index
- National Accounts of Well-being
References
- ↑ New Economics Foundation Official Website
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 The Centre for Well-being. Measuring our progress: The power of well-being. London: the new economics foundation, 2011.
External Links
Progress Papers and Publications
- The Practical Politics of Well-being, nef, 2011.
- Measuring our progress – the power of well-being, The Centre for Well-being, nef, 2011.
- Creating Indicators that engage the public: Happy Planet Index (Presentation) by Nic Marks, Founder of the Centre for Well-being, New Economics Foundation at the 3rd OECD World Forum, Busan, Korea, 2009
- Measuring Well-being in Policy 2008, Sam Thompson and Nic Marks, Centre for Well-Being, New Economics Foundation, UK
- Local Well-Being, Can we Measure it? 2007, Nicola Steuer and Nic Marks, Centre for Well-Being, New Economics Foundation, UK
