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Measuring national well-being - Households and families, 2012

2012-05-16T05:07:08Z

Philippa: Created page with "== Overview == This article is published as part of the ONS Measuring National Well-being Programme. The programme aims to produce accepted and trusted measures of the well-being..."

== Overview ==
This article is published as part of the ONS Measuring National Well-being Programme. The programme aims to produce accepted and trusted measures of the well-being of the nation - how the UK as a whole is doing. ‘Households and families’ is the third in a series which aims to explore in more detail the different domains that have been considered as important for the measurement of National Well-being. It firstly focuses on family and household formation and then on individual aspects of these such as marriage and divorce.

== Download the report ==
*[http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/dcp171766_259965.pdf Measuring national well-being - Households and families, 2012]

[[Category:Publications]]

Event:The Community Commons

2012-05-16T03:01:42Z

Philippa:

{{AddEvent
|Date=17/05/2012
|City=Online Webinar Series
|Country=United States
|Summary=Visualizing Public Data to Help Create Healthy and Sustainable Communities
}}
== Overview ==
The Community Commons is an interactive mapping, networking, and learning utility for civic leaders across the sectors, and participants of place-based initiatives across the US, working to create healthy, equitable, and sustainable communities. This webinar will provide a live demonstration of how users can access over 7,000 GIS data layers and use them to construct maps and visualizations. The site also includes searchable profiles of community initiatives and peer learning forums.

== Link to official website ==
*[http://campaign.r20.constantcontact.com/render?llr=brvgtccab&v=001fTNlOr47SjucuxbL-BUjhPnuj1mjT93TVjG5k01U8RA-EwinmS-f8Mb4cst1YnXuA2XsKjIDeVRo4m70NFk8WSSSNGLhMaYzDKEQNWFug-SrS5bmZx2YMLxsgXYnZYVhbVZBQhSXubA%3D The Community Commons]

Asia-Pacific Human Development Report 2012

2012-05-15T09:22:14Z

Philippa:

== Overview ==

Asia-Pacific not only has many of the world’s most climate-exposed territories, it is also home to millions of the most vulnerable people. The unprecedented pace and scale of human activities have been transforming the natural environment and contributing to climate change. Emissions cross borders, and so do some of the most affected natural systems, such as glaciers, coral reefs and mangroves. Some of these natural systems that act as natural buffers to the impacts of climate change are increasingly at risk of deterioration and destruction, posing a serious challenge to people’s lives in the region.

While the most vulnerable people have contributed little to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, they will face some of the most serious consequences. They are not just highly exposed and sensitive to climate events, but also lack adequate adaptive capacity. Unlike the developed countries of today, in a time of climate change, growing first and cleaning up later is no longer an option.

== Download the full report ==
*[http://www.undp.org/content/dam/undp/library/corporate/HDR/Asia%20and%20Pacific%20HDR/UNDP_Asia_Pacific_HDR_En_2012.pdf Asia-Pacific Human Development Report 2012]

== See also ==
*[[Africa Human Development Report 2012]]
*[[Human Development Index]]
*[[Human Development Report]]

[[Category:Publications]]

Africa Human Development Report 2012

2012-05-15T09:15:15Z

Philippa: /* See also */

== Overview ==
Sub-Saharan Africa has the highest prevalence of hunger in the world. Until this situation improves, the human development prospects of millions of Africans will remain at risk. UNDP’s first Africa Human Development Report shows that food security and human development reinforce each other.

If African countries are to realize their long-term potential, the report says, they must boost agricultural productivity to both improve the availability of food and reduce poverty. Policies to enhance nutrition are central to ensuring that access to food translates into human development. The report argues further that local populations must have the resources and decision-making power to produce and consume nutritious food throughout the year, overcoming the risks represented by continuing conflict, climate change and variations in food prices.

These drivers of change, by ending the ravages of hunger and malnourishment, will nurture capabilities and conditions for human development. A well-nourished and empowered population, in turn, is more likely to seek education, participate in society and expand its productive and human potential. With the right policies and institutions Africa can sustain this virtuous cycle of higher human development and enhanced food security.

== Download the Full Report ==
*[http://www.afhdr.org/AfHDR/documents/HDR.pdf Africa Human Development Report 2012]

== See also ==
*[[Asia-Pacific Human Development Report 2012]]
*[[Human Development Index]]
*[[Human Development Report]]

[[Category:Publications]]

State of the worlds mothers 2012

2012-05-14T13:08:44Z

Hannah:

== State of the World’s Mothers report 2012: Nutrition in the First 1,000 Days ==
 
[[File:State of the worlds mothers.png‎|120px|link=http://www.savethechildren.org/atf/cf/%7B9def2ebe-10ae-432c-9bd0-df91d2eba74a%7D/STATE-OF-THE-WORLDS-MOTHERS-REPORT-2012-FINAL.PDF]]
 
The focus of the Save the Children 13th annual State of the World's Mothers report is on the 171 million children globally who due to the physical and mental effects of poor nutrition in the earliest months of life do not have the opportunity to reach their full potential. The report using different Indices, ranks countries and shows which ones are doing the best and which are doing the worst at providing nutrition during the critical period of development that starts during a mother’s pregnancy and goes through until a child’s second birthday. The report assesses six key nutrition solutions, including breastfeeding, that have the greatest potential to save lives, and demonstrates how these solutions are affordable, even in the world’s poorest countries.

The indexes employed in the study are:
The Infant and Toddler Feeding Scorecard - ranks 73 developing countries on measures of early child nutrition
The Breastfeeding Policy Scorecard - examines maternity leave laws, the right to nursing breaks at work and other indicators to rank 36 developed countries on the
degree to which their policies support women who want to breastfeed
The Mothers’ Index - evaluates the status of women’s health, nutrition, education, economic well-being and political participation to rank 165 countries, both in the industrialized and developing world, to show where mothers and children fare best and where they face the greatest hardships.

== Findings ==
The following six principal findings were made by the report:
1. Children in a significant number of countries do not receive adequate nutrition during their first 1,000 days.
2. Child malnutrition is widespread and is limiting the future success of millions of children and their countries.
3. Political will, effective strategies and economic growth are required to fight malnutrition.
4. Global universal coverage of “lifesaving six” solutions identified by Save the Children could prevent more than 2 million mother and child deaths each year. The lifesaving six are: iron folate, breastfeeding, complementary feeding, vitamin A, zinc and hygiene.
5. Health workers are key to success. Frontline health workers have a central role in promoting good nutrition in the first 1,000 days of a child's life.
6. In industrialised countries Norway tops the Breastfeeding Policy Scorecard ranking and the United States is last.
 
== Recommendations ==
The report puts forward the following recommendations to address the issues identified:
1. Investment in proven, low-cost solutions (the lifesaving six) to save children’s lives and prevent stunting.
2. Investment in health workers, in particular those serving on the front lines, to reach the most vulnerable mothers and children.
3. Assist more girls go to school and remain in school
4. Increase government support for proven solutions to fight malnutrition.
5. Increase private sector partnerships to improve nutrition for mothers and children.
6. Improve laws, policies and actions that support families and encourage breastfeeding.
 
== External links ==
*[http://www.savethechildren.org/atf/cf/%7B9def2ebe-10ae-432c-9bd0-df91d2eba74a%7D/STATE-OF-THE-WORLDS-MOTHERS-REPORT-2012-FINAL.PDF To access the complete report see here]
 
[[Category:Child_well-being]]

Wikiprogress online discussions

2012-05-09T09:00:36Z

Philippa: /* Overview */

= Canadian Index of Wellbeing Online Discussion =
The [[Canadian Index of Wellbeing Online Discussion]] is the first in a series of Wikiprogress online discussions.

== Overview ==
The Global Progress Research Network, Wikiprogress and the Canadian Index of Wellbeing invite you to participate in an online discussion which will provide inputs to the 4th OECD World Forum in New Delhi, India in October of 2012. The title and focus of the World Forum will be "Measuring Well-Being for Development and Policy-Making".

As a leader in the "beyond GDP" movement, the Canadian Index of WellBeing is promoting a dialogue on the future of measurement and how indicators of progress can be applied to policy.

Join the '''[[Canadian Index of Wellbeing Online Discussion|Online Discusion]]''' and have your say.

Canadian Index of Wellbeing Online Discussion

2012-05-08T12:59:56Z

Philippa:

{{OnlineDiscussion
| date = May 2012
| topic = Canadian Index of Wellbeing
| belowBanner = The Wikiprogress Team in Collaboration with the Canadian Index of Wellbeing
| title = As part of Civil Society, how the Canadian Index of Wellbeing (CIW) is leading change
| blurb = <div style="text-align:justify;">[http://www.wikiprogress.org/index.php/GPRNet The Global Progress Research Network], Wikiprogress and the [[Canadian Index of Wellbeing]] invite you to participate in an online discussion which will open on 9 May. The discussion will be open until 23 May and will provide inputs to the [[Event:4th OECD World Forum on "Statistics, Knowledge and Policy"|4th OECD World Forum]] in New Delhi, India in October of 2012.</div> The title (and focus) of the World Forum will be "Measuring Well-Being for Development and Policy-Making".
| subtitle1 = Background
| subtitle1desc = <div style="text-align:justify;">Over the last decade, organisations around the world have been developing new indicators of progress that look beyond GDP and economic growth in measuring wellbeing. To date, the progress discourse has focused on the development of new measures and methodologies to gauge wellbeing at the local, national and international levels. Today, a new conversation is taking place: '''now that we have newer and smarter measures of progress, how can they be applied to policy?''' One of the leading organisations in the progress movement, the Canadian Index of Wellbeing (CIW), invites you to join this conversation and have your say in the next global phase of measuring what matters and in finding out how these indicators are going to be used at the policy level.</div>
| subtitle2 = Ways to get involved
| subtitle2desc = <div style="text-align:justify;">1. Watch the 9:15 minute long video presentation of the Index by Dr. Bryan Smale 
2. Read the 3 leading questions listed below 
3. Write your feedback, comments, answers to the question, thoughts on the video or overall thoughts on applying indicators to policy to be a part of the conversation using the Disqus facility below. If you are including a link in your response, please be sure to use a URL shortener otherwise the link will not appear </div>
 
| subtitle3 = Watch the Presentation
| subtitle3desc = <div align="center" style="text-align:center;">{{#widget:YouTube|id=JNcTfsG10Fo|width=480|height=300}} </div>
<div style="text-align:justify;">The [[Canadian Index of Wellbeing|Canadian Index of Wellbeing]] (CIW) goes beyond narrow economic measures like GDP and provides Canada's only national index that measures wellbeing across a wide spectrum of domains. The work of CIW extends beyond Canada; both methods and models of the index have been used across the world by organisations developing more comprehensive measures of progress. As a leader in the "beyond GDP" movement, the CIW is promoting a dialogue of the future of measurement and the application of these indicators to policy.</div>
| subtitle4 = Leading Questions
| subtitle4desc = <div style="text-align:justify;">1. How can initiatives like the CIW foster the progress of societies in Canada and also around the world in the current economic climate?

2. The CIW uses a combined approach to the development of alternative measures of wellbeing, including a composite index, dashboard, and full set of indicators. What approach is the most effective?

3. Now that the first CIW Composite Index is in the public domain, the CIW has some examples of early uptake and use. How can initiatives like the CIW evaluate progress over time?</div>
| disqusID = wikiprogressciw
| twitterQuery = #stats2policy
| twitterCaption = CIW - Stats To Policy
| twitterTitle = Wikiprogress.org
}}

Measuring Well-being in Cities

2012-05-08T07:11:25Z

Philippa:

== Overview ==
Civic Exchange is working on creating a well-being index for Asian cities, that can harness the power of indices plus engage people on issues of civic importance. This report reviews a range of existing indices and guides us in developing our index that is based on what Asian urban residents identify as their priorities and needs, as well as combining objective and subjective components. 

== Link to full text ==
*[http://dl.dropbox.com/u/2439304/civicexchange/120430wellbeing_en.pdf Measuring Well-being in Cities - A Literature Review]

[[Category:Publications]]

Rights From the Start: Early Childhood Care and Education

2012-05-07T12:22:33Z

Hannah: Created page with "== About == This report written by Vernor Muñoz, former United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Right to Education, on behalf of the Global Campaign for Education, states that..."

== About ==
This report written by Vernor Muñoz, former United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Right to Education, on behalf of the Global Campaign for Education, states that its intention is to "highlight a truth that should be uncontroversial: that neither rights nor education begins when a child first enters a primary school". Early childhood care and education is included as ‘Goal 1’ of the six Education For All goals, agreed by 164 governments in Dakar in 2000, and is affirmed as an individual right in numerous international and regional treaties. The report states that for the Global Campaign for Education, these agreements clearly make it a state responsibility, which requires a strong and coordinated government response.

Despite this it documents that barely half of the countries included in the UNESCO Global Monitoring Report on Education For All are confirmed as having official programmes which provide for children aged three years or less, and that many do not reach all children who need them.

== Necessity of early childhood care and education ==
The report argues that the right to early childhood care and education is crucial to achieving other rights (relating to health and civic participation), to helping individuals exit situations of poverty and reach their potential, and to addressing inequality within and between communities and nations. New research published in 2011 by the Lancet demonstrates that early childhood is the period during which quality care and education programmes can do most to “break the cycle of inequities that has dominated the lives of millions of children and families”.

== Progress and challenges ==
In assessing the current situation of progress made and challenges which persist in early childhood care and education, the report analyses and measures changes in the following areas: Public policies, state plans and programmes; Budget allocations; Enrolment; Pre-primary teaching staff; Gender equality; Health in early childhood and, the role of Other ECCE actors including NGOs, foundations and private initiatives.

Programs in [[Brazil]], [[Pakistan]] and [[Senegal]] are put forward as case studies of good practice.

== Future steps ==
In examining government planning and budgets and donor assistance for developing countries, the report documents a a gap between the right to early childhood care and education, its links to other rights and widespread acceptance and acknowledgement of this. It states that it is necessary to firstly recognise young children as rights-holders and to provide a rights framework to place pressure on governments to meet their responsibilities. It argues that the role of governments is necessary to avoid dominance by the private sector in early childhood provision and resulting cost barriers for the poorest and most vulnerable, and to ensure quality content and curricula of early childhood care and education as well as the distribution of provision.

The report claims that recognition of these rights will have the following implications:

Every child – including the most marginalised– should have the opportunity to access early childhood care and education

Governments should ensure comprehensive and integrated services for young children – including care, health and education – that are regularly monitored to ensure high quality

Curricula and approaches should meet the educational, developmental, nutritional, health and individual needs of children.

Teachers and other staff should be trained, qualified, supported and valued professionals.

A significant increase in financing is needed to provide these services

Public policy and planning for early childhood care and education should be stronger and better coordinated, with proper oversight of private sector or NGO provision.

*[http://globalactionweek.org/app/webroot/files/reports/GAW_RFTS_FINAL_ENG.pdf To access the report in full see here]

== See also ==
[[Early Childhood]]

Convention on the Rights of the Child

2012-05-06T08:44:37Z

Hannah:

=== About ===
The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (commonly referred to as the CRC, CROC, or UNCRC) is the most widely ratified human rights treaty in the world.<ref>[http://www.hreoc.gov.au/human_rights/children/about_2011submission.html Reporting to the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child, Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Committee Australia, 2011]</ref> It is a human rights treaty built on different legal systems and cultural traditions which sets out the civil, cultural, economic, political and social rights of children. In doing so it declares a universally agreed set of non-negotiable standards and obligations.<ref>[ http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/crc/ Committee on the Rights of the Child]</ref>
 
The Convention was adopted and opened for signature, ratification and accession by the United Nations General Assembly through resolution 44/25 on November 20, 1989 and it came into force on September 2, 1990. As stated in Article 1, for the purposes of the Convention, a child is defined as any human being under the age of eighteen.<ref>[http://www2.ohchr.org/english/law/crc.htm Convention on the Rights of the Child Office of the United Nations Commissioner for Human Rights]</ref>
 
== Structure of the Convention ==
The Convention is made up of 54 articles and two Optional Protocols. The Optional Protocols are on the involvement of children in armed conflict and the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography. On 19 December 2011, a third optional protocol on a Communications Procedure was approved by the UN General Assembly. This protocol will allow for individual children to submit complaints regarding specific violations of their rights under the Convention and its first two optional protocols. The Protocol opens for signature in 2012 and will enter into force upon ratification by 10 UN Member States.<ref>[ http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/crc/ Committee on the Rights of the Child]</ref>
 
== Use of the Convention ==
The Convention provides a guideline for the international communities as well as individual governments to develop permanent bodies or mechanisms to promote the coordination, monitoring and evaluation of activities throughout all sectors. Its implementation helps governments assure the visibility of children and their needs in policy development processes in particular through strategies such as child impact assessments and through analysis of government spending and the proportion of public funds spent on children. The Convention created a framework which has come to provide the inspiration for an increasing child centred focus in relevant fields including child well-being and human and social development.<ref>[http://www.springerlink.com/content/j7p2u6m201535p4t/fulltext.pdf A Review Essay on the Measurement of Child Well-Being Liliana Fernandes, Americo Mendes, Aurora A.C. Teixeira, 2012, Social Indicators Research, Vol 106, Number 2]</ref>
The Convention has been employed when interpreting the European Convention on Human Rights <ref>[Sutherland, Elaine E. 2003. "Can International Conventions Drive Domestic Law Reform? The Case of Physical Punishment of Children" in Dewar J., Parker S. eds. Family law: processes, practices, pressures: proceedings of the Tenth World Conference of the International Society of Family Law, July 2000, Brisbane, Australia. Oxford: Hart, p. 488. ISBN 978-1-84113-308-9]</ref>
 
== Legally binding instrument ==
The Convention on the Rights of the Child is the first legally binding international instrument to incorporate the full range of human rights—civil, cultural, economic, political and social rights. This selection of rights is founded on respect for the dignity and worth of each individual, regardless of race, colour, gender, language, religion, opinions, origins, wealth, birth status or ability and therefore applies to every human being in the world.<ref>[http://www.unicef.org/crc/ Convention on the Rights of the Child, UNICEF]</ref>
 
The Convention specifies the basic human rights that are held by children everywhere: the right to survival; to develop to the fullest; to protection from harmful influences, abuse and exploitation; and to participate fully in family, cultural and social life. The four core principles of the Convention are non-discrimination; devotion to the best interests of the child; the right to life, survival and development; and respect for the views of the child. Every right spelled out in the Convention is inherent to the human dignity and the holistic and harmonious development of every child.
 
== Obligations of signatories ==
The Convention protects children's rights by setting standards in health care; education; and legal, civil and social services. By agreeing to undertake the obligations of the Convention (by ratifying or acceding to it), national governments have committed themselves to protecting and ensuring children's rights and they have agreed to hold themselves accountable for this commitment before the international community. States parties to the Convention are obliged to develop and undertake all actions and policies in the light of the best interests of the child.<ref>[http://www.unicef.org/crc/ Convention on the Rights of the Child, UNICEF]</ref>
 
As of 2012, 193 countries are party – they have ratified, accepted or acceded (some with stated reservations and/or specific interpretations) - to the Convention including every member of the United Nations with the exception of Somalia, South Sudan and the United States of America. In 2009 the Somali government announced plans to ratify the treaty.<ref>[ http://af.reuters.com/article/topNews/idAFJOE5AJ0IT20091120 Somalia to join child rights pact: UN, REUTERS Africa, 20.11.2009]</ref> In the United States extensive examination and scrutiny of treaties is conducted before they are ratified. This process of examination, which includes an evaluation of the degree of compliance with existing law and practice in the country at state and federal levels, can take several years or longer if the treaty is portrayed as being controversial or if the process is politicized. Additionally, the US Government will typically consider only one human rights treaty at a time. The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women is currently cited as the nation's top priority among human rights treaties.<ref>[http://www.unicef.org/crc/index_30229.html Convention on the Rights of the Child Frequently Asked Questions]</ref>
 
== Implementation, monitoring and evaluation ==
The Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC) is made up of independent experts and it serves to monitor the implementation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child by State parties. The Committee also monitors implementation of the two optional protocols to the Convention on the involvement of children in armed conflict and the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography. It will also monitor the implementation of the third optional protocol on a Communications Procedure upon its ratification.<ref>[ http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/crc/ Committee on the Rights of the Child]</ref>
 
All States parties are required to submit regular reports to the Committee on how the Convention and rights are being implemented. States must initially report two years after acceding to the Convention and then every five years. The Committee examines each report and addresses its concerns and recommendations to the State party in the form of “concluding observations”. The Committee also reviews reports submitted by States who have acceded to the two Optional Protocols to the Convention. Upon ratification and the entry into force of the third Protocol, the Committee will be able to consider individual complaints by children regarding the specific violation of their rights under the first two optional Protocols. Until that time, violations of child rights may be raised before other committees with the power to consider individual complaints. <ref>[http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/crc/ Committee on the Rights of the Child]</ref>
 
== Measuring the outcomes of the implementation of the Convention ==
States are obliged to provide extensive child-specific data in their periodic reports including:
• Data disaggregated by age, gender, ethnic and social origin, place of residence, family status and special groups;
• Data on the state of children's civil rights, children's survival, welfare and development;
• Qualitative and quantitative data, involving the consultation with children as to how information about their lives can best be collected and used;
• Data that is accessible to all those concerned with the well-being of children. Data should be made available to the public and should be presented to governmental bodies on a regular basis to inform planning and policy-making.<ref>[http://www.unicef.org/crc/files/Implementation_guidelines.pdf FACT SHEET: Implementation guidelines for the Convention
on the Rights of the Child]</ref> [http://wikiprogress.org/index.php/Child_well-being_measurement Child well-being measures] are also commonly employed tools for assessing the fulfilment of the rights set out in the Convention.
 
== Summary of the rights included in the articles ==
As documented by [http://www.unicef.org/crc/files/Rights_overview.pdf UNICEF], the 54 articles included in the Convention address the following rights:

Article 1 (Definition of the child): The Convention defines a 'child' as a person below the age of 18, unless the laws of a particular country set the legal age for adulthood younger. The Committee on the Rights of the Child, has encouraged States to review the age of majority if it is set below 18 and to increase protection for all children under 18.
 

Article 2 (Non-discrimination): The Convention applies to all children, regardless of race, religion or abilities.
 

Article 3 (Best interests of the child): The best interests of children must be the primary concern in making decisions that may affect them. All adults should do what is best for children and when they make decisions, they should think of the potential impacts children in particular regarding budgets, policy and laws.
 

Article 4 (Protection of rights): Governments have a responsibility to take all available measures to make sure children’s rights are respected, protected and fulfilled. Ratification of the Convention obliges countries to review their laws relating to children and all applicable services, as well as levels of funding for these services. Governments are obliged to take all necessary steps to ensure that the minimum standards set by the Convention are being met. They are obliged to assist families to protect children’s rights and create an environment where they can grow and reach their potential. In some instances, this may involve amending existing laws or creating new ones.
 

Article 5 (Parental guidance): Governments should respect the rights and responsibilities of families to direct and guide their children so that, as they grow, they learn to use their rights properly. Article 5 encourages parents to deal with rights issues "in a manner consistent with the evolving capacities of the child". In line with Article 4, the Convention awards governments the responsibility of protecting and assisting families to ensure that they fulfil their role as nurturers of children.
 

Article 6 (Survival and development): Children have the right to live. Governments should ensure that children survive and develop healthily.
 

Article 7 (Registration, name, nationality, care): Children have the right to a legally registered name officially recognised by the government. Children have the right to a nationality (to belong to a country). Additionally, children have the right to know and, as far as possible, to be cared for by their parents.
 

Article 8 (Preservation of identity): Children have the right to an identity – an official record of who they are. Governments should respect children’s right to a name, a nationality and family ties.
 

Article 9 (Separation from parents): Children have the right to live with their parent(s), unless it has a negative impact on them. For children whose parents do not live together, they have the right to stay in contact with both parents, unless this may cause harm to the child.
 

Article 10 (Family reunification): Families members who live in different countries should be allowed to move between those countries so that parents and children may remain in contact, or be reunited as a family.
 

Article 11 (Kidnapping): Governments should take steps to stop children being taken out of their own country illegally. This article is particularly concerned with parental abductions. The Optional Protocol on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography has a provision that concerns abduction for financial gain.
 

Article 12 (Respect for the views of the child): When adults are making decisions that affect children, children have the right to say their opinion and have this taken into account. The Convention encourages adults to listen to the opinions of children and involve them in decision-making without giving children authority over adults. Article 12 does not interfere with parents' right and responsibility to express their views on matters affecting their children. Moreover, the Convention recognizes that the level of a child’s participation in decisions must be appropriate to the child's level of maturity.
 

Article 12 (Respect for the views of the child): When adults are making decisions that affect children, children have the right to say what they think should happen and have their opinions taken into consideration.
 

Article 13 (Freedom of expression): Children have the right to get and share information, as long as the information is not damaging to them or others. In exercising the right to freedom of expression, children have the responsibility to respect the rights, freedoms and reputations of others. The freedom of expression includes the right to share information in any way they choose, including by talking, drawing or writing.
 

Article 14 (Freedom of thought, conscience and religion): Children have the right to think and believe what they choose and to practise their religion, as long as they are not preventing other people from enjoying their rights. Parents have an obligation help guide their children in these matters. The Convention respects the rights and duties of parents in providing religious and moral guidance to their children. At the same time, the Convention recognizes that as children mature and are able to form their own views, some may question certain religious practices or cultural traditions. The Convention supports children's right to examine and express their beliefs, whilst respecting the rights and freedoms of others.
 

Article 15 (Freedom of association): Children have the right to meet together and to join groups and organisations, as long as it does not stop other people from enjoying their rights. In exercising their rights, children have the responsibility to respect the rights, freedoms and reputations of others.
 

Article 16 (Right to privacy): Children have a right to privacy. The law should protect them from attacks against their way of life, their good name, their families and their homes.
 

Article 17 (Access to information; mass media): Children have the right to get information that is important to their health and well-being. Governments have an obligation to encourage mass media – radio, television, newspapers and Internet content sources – to provide information that children can understand, and to not promote materials that could harm children.
 

Article 18 (Parental responsibilities; state assistance): Both parents share responsibility for bringing up their children, and should always consider what is best for each child. Governments must respect the responsibility of parents for providing appropriate guidance to their children – the Convention does not take responsibility for children away from their parents and give more authority to governments. It obliges governments to provide support services to parents, especially if both parents work outside the home.
 

Article 19 (Protection from all forms of violence): Children have the right to be protected from being hurt and mistreated, physically or mentally. Governments should ensure that children are properly cared for and protected from violence, abuse and neglect by their parents, or anyone else. In terms of discipline, the Convention does not specify what forms of punishment parents should use, however any form of discipline involving violence is unacceptable. In most countries, laws already define what sorts of punishments are considered excessive or abusive. It is the duty of each government to review these laws in line with the Convention.
 

Article 20 (Children deprived of family environment): Children who cannot be looked after by their own family have a right to special care and must be looked after in a correct manner by people who respect their ethnic group, religion, culture and language.
 

Article 21 (Adoption): Children have the right to care and protection if they are adopted or in foster care. The first concern must be for their well-being. The same rules should apply whether they are adopted in the country where they were born, or if they are taken to live in another country.
 

Article 22 (Refugee children): Children have the right to special protection and help if they are refugees (if they have been forced to leave their home and live in another country), as well as all the rights in this Convention.
 

Article 23 (Children with disabilities): Children who have any kind of disability have the right to special care and support, as well as all the rights in the Convention, so that they may live full and independent lives.
 

Article 24 (Health and health services): Children have the right to good quality health care – to safe drinking water, nutritious food, a clean and safe environment, and information to help them stay healthy. Rich countries should help poorer countries achieve this.
 

Article 25 (Review of treatment in care): Children who are looked after by their local authorities, rather than their parents, have the right to have these living arrangements monitored and evaluated regularly to see if they are the most appropriate. Their care and treatment should always be based on “the best interests of the child”. (see Guiding Principles, Article 3)
 

Article 26 (Social security): Children – either through their guardians or directly – have the right to help from the government if they are poor or in need.
 

Article 27 (Adequate standard of living): Children have the right to a standard of living that is good enough to meet their physical and mental needs. Governments should help families and guardians who cannot afford to provide this, particularly with regard to food, clothing and housing.
 

Article 28: (Right to education): All children have the right to a primary education, which should be free. Wealthy countries should help poorer countries achieve this right. Discipline in schools should respect children’s dignity and schools must be run in an orderly way. In line with Article 19, this should occur without the use of violence. Any form of school discipline should take into account the child's human dignity. Governments must ensure that school administrators review their discipline policies and eliminate any discipline practices involving physical or mental violence, abuse or neglect. Young people should be encouraged to reach the highest level of education of which they are capable.
 

Article 29 (Goals of education): Children’s education should develop each child’s personality, talents and abilities to the fullest. It should encourage children to respect others, human rights and their own and other cultures. It should also help them learn to live peacefully, protect the environment and respect other people. Children have a particular responsibility to respect the rights their parents, and education should aim to develop respect for the values and culture of their parents. The Convention does not address such issues as school uniforms, dress codes, the singing of the national anthem or prayer in schools. It is up to governments and school officials in each country to determine whether, in the context of their society and existing laws, such matters infringe upon other rights protected by the Convention.
 

Article 30 (Children of minorities/indigenous groups): Minority or indigenous children have the right to learn about and practice their own culture, language and religion. The right to practice one’s own culture, language and religion applies to everyone; the Convention here highlights this right in instances where the practices are not shared by the majority of people in the country.
 

Article 31 (Leisure, play and culture): Children have the right to relax and play, and to join in a wide range of cultural, artistic and other recreational activities.
 

Article 32 (Child labour): Governments should protect children from work that is dangerous or might harm their health or their education. Although the Convention protects children from harmful and exploitative work, there is nothing in it that prohibits parents from expecting their children to help out at home in ways that are safe and appropriate to their age. If children help out in a family farm or business, the tasks they do should be safe and suited to their level of development and comply with national labour laws. Children's work should not jeopardize any of their other rights, including the right to education, or the right to relaxation and play.
 

Article 33 (Drug abuse): Governments should use all means possible to protect children from the use of harmful drugs and from being used in the drug trade.
 

Article 34 (Sexual exploitation): Governments are obliged to protect children from all forms of sexual exploitation and abuse. This provision in the Convention is enhanced by the Optional Protocol on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography.
 

Article 35 (Abduction, sale and trafficking): The government should take all measures possible to make sure that children are not abducted, sold or trafficked. This provision in the Convention is enhanced by the Optional Protocol on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography.
 

Article 36 (Other forms of exploitation): Children should be protected from any activity that takes advantage of them or could harm their welfare and development.
 

Article 37 (Detention and punishment): No person is allowed to punish children in a cruel or harmful way. Children who break the law should not be treated cruelly. They should not be put in prison with adults, should be able to keep in contact with their families, and should not be sentenced to death or life imprisonment without possibility of release.
 

Article 38 (War and armed conflicts): Governments are obliged to do everything they can to protect and care for children affected by war. Children under 15 should not be forced or recruited to take part in a war or join the armed forces. The Convention’s Optional Protocol on the involvement of children in armed conflict further develops this right by raising the age for direct participation in armed conflict to 18 and establishing a ban on compulsory recruitment for children under 18.
 

Article 39 (Rehabilitation of child victims): Children who have been neglected, abused or exploited should receive special help to physically and psychologically recover and reintegrate into society. Particular attention should be paid to restoring the health, self-respect and dignity of the child.
 

Article 40 (Juvenile justice): Children who are accused of breaking the law have the right to legal help and fair treatment in a justice system that is respectful of their rights. Governments are required to set a minimum age below which children cannot be deemed criminally responsible and to provide minimum guarantees for the fairness and quick resolution of judicial or alternative proceedings.
 

Article 41 (Respect for superior national standards): In the case that the laws of a country provide better protection of children’s rights than the articles in the Convention, those laws should apply.
 

Article 42 (Knowledge of rights): Governments should make the Convention known to adults and children and adults should assist children to learn about their rights. (See also article 4)
 

Articles 43-54 (implementation measures): discusses how governments and international organizations should work to ensure children's rights are protected. <ref>[http://www.unicef.org/crc/files/Rights_overview.pdf FACT SHEET: A summary of the rights under the Convention on the Rights of the Child UNICEF, N/A]</ref>

== See also ==
[[Child Soldier]] 
[[Child-Friendliness Index]] 
[[Why do we need child well-being measures?]] 
[[Children]] 
[[Child Marriage]] 
[[Eurochild]] 
[[Early Childhood Care and Development]] 
[[UNICEF Child-Wellbeing measure]] 
[[Child Labour]] 
 
== References ==
<references />
[[Category:Child_well-being]]

Event:Innovative Approaches to Turn Statistics into Knowledge

2012-05-04T05:02:30Z

Philippa:

{{AddEvent
|Date=24/09/2012
|City=Seoul
|Country=Korea
|Summary=This seminar will address the issue of making statistics more easily understandable and appealing using the latest data visualization techniques
}}
Organised jointly by OECD and Statistics Korea

== About ==
This seminar will address the issue of making statistics more easily understandable and appealing using the latest data visualization techniques. This event will provide a platform for showcasing the latest cutting-edge products in the presentation, dissemination and communication of statistics, building on the progress made in previous seminars held in 2007 (Rome), 2008 (Stockholm), 2009 (Washington DC) and 2010 (Cape Town).

The meeting will be organized around 4 main themes:

1. Using maps to visualize your data - software making use of maps to select and visualize the data.

2. How to get the most out of your data with discovery & analysis software – using ‘data mining’ together with other analytical software to exploit statistical data.

3. Using data and storytelling to get a message across - the ability of the tool to describe a sequence of events using the data, graphics and descriptive text saved and viewed as a ‘story’ that can be shared with others.

4. Visualising data in innovative ways - viewing data and graphics in a way not covered by the other themes.

== Link to official website ==
*[http://www.oecd.org/document/20/0,3746,en_2649_33715_49353876_1_1_1_1,00.html Innovative Approaches to Turn Statistics into Knowledge]

Humankind Index

2012-05-04T04:51:13Z

Philippa:

== Overview ==
Oxfam Scotland has created a new way of measuring well-being that takes money into account, whilst also recognising that it takes more than just economic growth to make a prosperous nation. The Oxfam Humankind Index is measures the quality of life for people in Scotland. It includes social relations, health and skills, the physical environment and natural context, and financial assets.

The first assessment of Scotland's performance shows that overall prosperity increased by 1.2% between 2007-08 and 2009-10, largely due to improvements in how people felt about their health and community spirit.<ref>http://policy-practice.oxfam.org.uk/our-work/poverty-in-the-uk/humankind-index</ref>

{{caution}}
== References ==
<references/>

== External links ==
*[http://policy-practice.oxfam.org.uk/~/media/Files/policy_and_practice/poverty_in_uk/HKI/humankindindexfaqs.ashx Humankind Index FAQs] 
*[http://policy-practice.oxfam.org.uk/~/media/Files/policy_and_practice/poverty_in_uk/HKI/NPF_briefing_FINAL.ashx Revising Scotland’s National Performance Framework] 
*[http://policy-practice.oxfam.org.uk/~/media/Files/policy_and_practice/poverty_in_uk/HKI/SFFHKIeventreport.ashx Scottish Futures Forum Humankind Index event report] 
*[http://policy-practice.oxfam.org.uk/~/media/Files/policy_and_practice/poverty_in_uk/HKI/HKI%20results%20April%202012.ashx Oxfam Humankind Index for Scotland: First results] 
*[http://policy-practice.oxfam.org.uk/~/media/Files/policy_and_practice/poverty_in_uk/HKI/HKI%20consultation%20methods%20results%20April%202012.ashx Oxfam Humankind Index: Methodology, Consultation and Results] 

[[Category:Progress initiative]] [[Category:United Kingdom]]

Event:Canadian Index of WellBeing Online discussion

2012-05-03T23:50:46Z

Philippa: Created page with "{{AddEvent |Date=09/05/2012 |City=Global |Country=Canada |Summary=COMING SOON: The CIW online discussion asks: now that we have newer and smarter measures of progress, how can th..."

{{AddEvent
|Date=09/05/2012
|City=Global
|Country=Canada
|Summary=COMING SOON: The CIW online discussion asks: now that we have newer and smarter measures of progress, how can they be applied to policy?
}}
COMING SOON
== Overview ==
The Global Progress Research Network, Wikiprogress and the Canadian Index of Wellbeing invite you to participate in an online discussion which will open on 9 May. The discussion will last a period of 2 weeks and will provide inputs to the 4th OECD World Forum in New Delhi, India in October of 2012.

== Topic ==
Over the last decade, organisations around the world have been developing new indicators of progress that look beyond GDP and economic growth in measuring well-being. To date, the progress discourse has focused on the development of new measures and methodologies to gauge well-being at the local, national and international levels. Today, a new conversation is taking place: now that we have newer and smarter measures of progress, how can they be applied to policy? One of the leading organisations in the progress movement, the Canadian Index of Well-Being (CIW), invites you to join this conversation and have your say in the next global phase of measuring what matters and in finding out how these indicators are going to be used at the policy level.

== How to get involved ==
The online discussion will be launched on Wednesday the 9th of May and will run until the 25th of May.

== See also ==
*[[Canadian Index of Wellbeing]]

May 2012 eBrief

2012-05-02T07:24:32Z

Philippa:

{{EBrief
| date = May 2012
| highlight1 =
| highlight1desc =
 

'''Wikigender'''
Monthly highlights from [http://www.wikigender.org/index.php/New_Home Wikigender] on gender equality and progress: 

'''Wikichild'''
Monthly highlights from [[Wikichild]] on child well-being and progress:

'''Latin America Network'''
Monthly highlights from the [http://wikiprogressal.blogspot.com.au/ Wikiprogress Latin America Network] 
| highlight2 =
| highlight2desc =
| communityPortalDesc = The [[Whole Child Virtual Conference]] held in the first week of may saw presenters from around the world sharing their knowledge and expertise with participants on developing a whole child approach to education. 

 

'''Blog highlights from the Prog Blog in May'''
*[http://theblogprogress.blogspot.com.au/2012/05/crc-and-governments-delivering-on.html CRC and governments delivering on commitments: Australia’s National Children’s Commissioner] 
*[http://theblogprogress.blogspot.com.au/2012/05/canadian-index-of-wellbeing-online.html Canadian Index of Wellbeing Online Discussion] 
*[http://theblogprogress.blogspot.com.au/2012/05/europe-its-children-and-tacking.html Europe, its children and tackling deprivation and poverty]
 

'''Wikiprogress will be organising local events in the future. If you are interested, please update your country and city information in your [[Special:Preferences|user preferences]] so we have you on our lists. All of your personal data is confidential.''' 
| articles = 1,250
| users = 1,132
| twitter = 976
| facebook = 437
| image1 = http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Vm57oDcmRJY/Tni7tvzhCFI/AAAAAAAAAC4/E8prfOqFX2w/s1600/forum.jpg
| section1Header = Stories from the Month
| section1Content =
| image2 = http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/02/Current_event_marker.png
| section2Header = Upcoming Events
| section2Content = [[Rio+20|Rio+20 - United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development]] [[:Event:European Conference on Measuring Well-Being and Fostering the Progress of Societies|European Conference on Measuring Well-Being and Fostering the Progress of Societies]]
| image3 = http://ramialsindi.files.wordpress.com/2011/10/emr_implementation.jpg
| section3Header = Please contribute to wikiprogress here
| article1 = [[Sustainable Development Goals]]
| article2 =
}}

GPRNet meeting May

2012-05-02T05:08:14Z

Philippa: /* Meeting minutes April */

Progress in the news - April 2012

2012-05-01T07:33:02Z

Philippa: Created page with "== April progress in the news == *[http://india.nydailynews.com/business/43af927339d678460d2dab29d167cea5/involve-developing-countries-in-mdg-speaker-tells-un-chief Involve dev..."

== April progress in the news ==

*[http://india.nydailynews.com/business/43af927339d678460d2dab29d167cea5/involve-developing-countries-in-mdg-speaker-tells-un-chief Involve developing countries in MDG, Speaker tells UN chief‎ New York Daily News] (New York Daily News 27.04.2012)

United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon who is on an India trip Friday met Meira Kumar during which the Lok Sabha speaker asked him to involve developing countries in the consultation process with regard to the millennium development goals.

 

*[http://www.huffingtonpost.com/andrew-winston/economic-growth-limits_b_1455316.html Growth Isn't Going to Last Forever] (Huffington Post 26.04.2012)

Aside from tiny Bhutan and their pursuit of Gross National Happiness, every country bases economic policy on the pursuit of endless GDP growth, and companies are right there with them. But common sense tells us that nothing can grow forever, and thus national and corporate-level goals alike have a sizeable blind spot.

 

*[http://www.businessdayonline.com/NG/index.php/markets/companies-and-market/36499-nigeria-others-set-for-rapid-growth-in-spite-of-volatile-global-economy-world-bank Nigeria, others set for rapid growth in spite of volatile global economy - World Bank] (Business Day 25.04.2012)

A recent World Bank report has revealed that economic growth in sub-Saharan Africa remains strong and is poised for a lift-off after growing at 4.9 percent in 2011, just shy of the pre-crisis average of 5 percent.
 

*[http://ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=107560&utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter Kenya "Becoming Economic Heartbeat of Africa"] (IPS 25.04.2012)
When Kenya’s newly announced geothermal power generation project comes online, it will turn the East African country into an economic powerhouse in the region. 

*[http://www.guardian.co.uk/global-development/poverty-matters/2012/apr/25/future-new-mdgs-mistakes-past Fit for the future? The rocky road to a new set of development goals] (Guardian 24.04.2012)

The post-2015 millennium development goals must focus on sustainability, equity and reaching the poorest of the poor
 

*[http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2012/apr/24/oxfam-humankind-index-measure-wellbeing?newsfeed=true Oxfam launches Humankind Index to measure wellbeing] (Guardian 23.04.2012)
The charity's Scottish arm has used measures including health, transport, family life and employment to evaluate quality of life
 

*[http://www.theage.com.au/national/the-end-of-the-age-of-entitlement-20120419-1x8vj.html The end of the age of entitlement] (The Age 19.04.2012)

This is the text of Shdow Treasurer Joe Hockey's speech to the Institute of economic affairs in London.

 

*[http://allafrica.com/stories/201204180482.html Millennium Development Goals - Further and Faster‎] (All Africa 18.04.2012)
While many African countries have registered significant advances during the past decade, overall the continent will miss 2015 goals by a wide margin at the current rate.

 

*[http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2012/apr/17/charities-wellbeing-measure-prove-work-valuable?newsfeed=true Will 'wellbeing measure' allow charities to prove their worth?] (Guardian 17.04.2012)

New Philanthropy Capital has created a tool that helps charities prove that the work they do is worth funding

 

*[http://www.gallup.com/poll/153869/One-Suffering-Worldwide.aspx?utm_source=google&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=syndication More Than One in 10 "Suffering" Worldwide] (Gallup 14.04.2012)

Bulgaria and Yemen lead the world in suffering
 
*[http://www.postzambia.com/post-read_article.php?articleId=26842 Luapula is least in human development - UNDP] (The Post Newspapers Zambia 14.04.2012)

UNDP economic advisor Roberto Tibana says Luapula Province is not doing well and is least in human development compared to other provinces in the country.

 
*[http://focustaiwan.tw/ShowNews/WebNews_Detail.aspx?Type=aSOC&ID=201204140010 Taiwan's suffering index in Gallup survey improves in 2011] (Focus Taiwan 14.04.2012)
The suffering index measures respondents' perceptions of where they stand on a ladder scale with steps numbered from 0 to 10, where "0" represents the worst possible life.

 

*[http://www.huffingtonpost.com/the-morningside-post/how-to-measure-happiness_b_1419446.html Measuring Happiness] (The Huffington Post 12.04.2012)
As one of the few students among the bevy of diplomats and world leaders attending the United Nation's high-level meeting on wellness and happiness last Monday, I wasn't sure how I or my fellow peers fit into the discussion.
 

*[http://www.project-syndicate.org/commentary/the-mismeasure-of-wealth?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter The Mismeasure of Wealth] (Project Syndicate 08.04.2012)

Despite many successes in creating a more integrated and stable global economy, a new report by the United Nations Secretary-General’s High-Level Panel on Global Sustainability – Resilient People, Resilient Planet: A Future Worth Choosing – recognizes the current global order’s failure, even inability, to implement the drastic changes needed for true “sustainability.”

 

*[http://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2012/04/is-gross-national-happiness-is-a-better-measurement-than-gdp/255542/ Is 'Gross National Happiness' a Better Measurement Than GDP?‎] (The Atlantic 08.04.2012)

The Asian nation of Bhutan believes it has found a good way to gauge wellbeing.

 

*[http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Civil-litigation-rates-tied-to-growth-Human-Development-Index-literacy-Study/articleshow/12603390.cms Civil litigation rates tied to growth, Human Development Index, literacy] (Times of India 08.04.2012)

Stronger yet was the correlation between development indicators like the Human Development Index and the literacy rate with litigation rates.

 

*[http://www.nst.com.my/opinion/columnist/need-to-get-more-women-into-workforce-1.72504 Need to get more women into workforce‎] (New Straits Times 08.04.2012)

The 2010 Asia-Pacific Human Development Report estimates that if women's labour force participation rates were raised to 70 per cent..

*[http://www.rferl.org/content/happiness_un_conference/24535298.html Is Happiness Just As Important As GNP? And How Do You Measure It?] (Radio Free Europe Radio Liberty 06.04.2012)
Economists and development experts are meeting at the United Nations in New York to discuss whether improving happiness is just as important as increasing gross national product (GNP) for developing countries.
 

*[http://www.thesundaily.my/news/342200 Malaysia 51st “happiest country” in the world] (The Sun Daily 06.04.2012)
If happiness could be measured the way a country's economic performance is measured in terms of gross national product or gross domestic product, then Malaysia would be the world's 51st happiest country.
 

*[http://www.project-syndicate.org/commentary/the-mismeasure-of-wealth The Mismeasure of Wealth] (Project Syndicate 05.04.2012)

Despite many successes in creating a more integrated and stable global economy, a new report by the United Nations Secretary-General’s High-Level Panel on Global Sustainability – Resilient People, Resilient Planet: A Future Worth Choosing – recognizes the current global order’s failure, even inability, to implement the drastic changes needed for true “sustainability.”

 

*[http://opinion.financialpost.com/2012/04/02/terence-corcoran-are-you-happier-than-this-woman/ Terence Corcoran: Are you happier than this woman?] (Financial Post 03.04.2012)
What started in Bhutan is coming to a government near you
 

*[http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=149882134 UN Discusses Creation Of Gross National Happiness] (NPR 03.04.2012)
Bhutan, the tiny Himalayan nation which tops Asia in the United Nations' First World Happiness Report, convened the meeting seeking to develop a new economic model based on principles of happiness and well being.
 

*[http://www.monde-diplomatique.fr/carnet/2012-04-02-bonheur Mesurer le bonheur?] (Le Monde Diplomatique - In French 02.04.2012)
 

*[http://dotearth.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/04/02/seeking-happiness-on-a-finite-and-human-shaped-planet/ Seeking Happiness on a Finite and Human-Shaped Planet] (New York Times 02.04.2012)‎
As Ryback explains, the meeting was approved in a UN resolution last year recognizing that “the pursuit of happiness is a fundamental human goal” and “the gross domestic product [GDP] does not adequately reflect the happiness and well-being of peopl.

 
*[http://www.thetakeaway.org/2012/apr/02/achieving-global-happiness/ Is Happiness More Important than GDP?] (The Takeaway 02.04.2012)

Today the United Nations will discuss happiness.

 

*[http://www.deseretnews.com/article/765565433/UN-seeks-economic-model-of-happiness.html UN seeks economic model of happiness] (Deseret News 02.04.2012)
By Michael Astor AP AP Should happiness figure in a nation's bottom line?

 
*[http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2012%5C04%5C03%5Cstory_3-4-2012_pg14_7 Bhutan leader's pain at bringing global happiness] (Pakistan Daily Times 02.04.2012)
The feelgood factor has not yet reached the leader of Bhutan, the country that brought the world the National Happiness Index. But the Himalayan kingdom's campaign to put gross national happiness alongside gross domestic product is starting to sway ...

 
*[http://www.rappler.com/thewrap/april-2,-2012-edition/un-assembly-raises-the-happiness-economics-to-new-heights UN assembly raises the happiness economics to new heights] (Rappler 01.04.2012)‎
Happiness research is now one of the hottest fields in development economics, thanks to Bhutan's Gross National Happiness Index (GNH), which replaces the traditional Gross National Product (GDP) as gauge of national progress.

 

*[http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/apr/02/bhutan-world-suicidal-path Bhutan rails against world's 'suicidal path'] (The Guardian 01.04.2012)
The faster we cut down forests and haul in fish stocks to extinction, the more GDP grows.
 
*[http://www.forbes.com/sites/lisanapoli/2012/03/30/happiness-as-an-economic-policy-re-thinking-gdp-at-the-un/ Happiness as an economic policy: Re-thinking GDP at the UN] (Forbes 01.04.2012)
On Monday at the UN, the Prime Minister of Bhutan is convening a summit titled Wellbeing and Happiness: Defining a New Economic Paradigm. The idea is to advance a movement to get the world's leaders to think differently about how they measure success.

Why do we need child well-being measures?

2012-04-30T13:29:51Z

Hannah:

Child well-being may be defined as ‘a description of the quality of childhoods as they are lived, inclusive of the multiple factors which affect children’s lives – material conditions; access to education, their experience of education and school performance; their health; exposure to danger, risk and trauma; the quality of relationships developed. Although child poverty is a different concept to wellbeing, poverty influences each aspect of wellbeing and is a major impediment to delivering better wellbeing’<ref>[http://www.neweconomics.org/sites/neweconomics.org/files/Backing_the_Future_Measuring.pdf A guide to measuring children’s well-being, 2009, NEF and Action for Children]</ref>
 
== Key arguments for child well-being specific measures ==
 
=== The extent of the problem and long term consequences ===
Research shows that traditionally children have been disproportionally affected by poverty than any other group and that they are at higher risk of poverty than the average member of the population. In addition, it is widely acknowledged that experiences of poverty in childhood, which constrain children’s well-being in the short-term, can have long term impacts throughout the course of individual’s lives <ref>[http://www.springerlink.com/content/j7p2u6m201535p4t/fulltext.pdf Liliana Fernandes, Americo Mendes, Aurora A.C. Teixeira , 2011, A Review Essay on the Measurement of Child Well-Being, Social Indicator Research, (2012) 106:239-257]</ref>. In 2005, 19% of the child population in EU27 countries was at risk of poverty in comparison to 16% of the total population <ref>[http://www.springerlink.com/content/j7p2u6m201535p4t/fulltext.pdf Liliana Fernandes, Americo Mendes, Aurora A.C. Teixeira , 2011, A Review Essay on the Measurement of Child Well-Being, Social Indicator Research, (2012) 106:239-257]</ref>. Prior to 2008, half of the world’s children were living below the international $2 per day line <ref>[http://www.unicef.org/socialpolicy/files/A_Recovery_for_All_FINAL_Web.pdf UNICEF, 2012, A Recovery for All: Re-thinking Socio Economic Policies for Children and Households, Isabel Oritz and Matthew Cummins (eds), UNICEF, Division of Policy and Practice]</ref>.
Accordingly due to the extent of the problem and its relevance in terms of long term consequences, it is evident that child well-being requires effective tools to ensure progress <ref>[http://www.springerlink.com/content/j7p2u6m201535p4t/fulltext.pdf Liliana Fernandes, Americo Mendes, Aurora A.C. Teixeira , 2011, A Review Essay on the Measurement of Child Well-Being, Social Indicator Research, (2012) 106:239-257]</ref>.
 
=== Limitations of traditional indicators ===
Long standing measures including infant and child mortality rates, school enrollment, and immunization rates, are less relevant for measuring the well-being and quality of children's contemporary lives as they deal predominantly with survival and children’s basic needs and are consequently inadequate for measuring the state and quality of life of children beyond survival<ref>[http://www.springerlink.com/content/j7p2u6m201535p4t/fulltext.pdf Liliana Fernandes, Americo Mendes, Aurora A.C. Teixeira , 2011, A Review Essay on the Measurement of Child Well-Being, Social Indicator Research, (2012) 106:239-257]</ref>.
 
Additionally, as child well-being is constituted of several components, limiting it to the measurement of poverty (especially when poverty measures focus on income alone) fails to capture these components and accordingly, a complete picture of a child’s well-being<ref>[http://www.springerlink.com/content/j7p2u6m201535p4t/fulltext.pdf Liliana Fernandes, Americo Mendes, Aurora A.C. Teixeira , 2011, A Review Essay on the Measurement of Child Well-Being, Social Indicator Research, (2012) 106:239-257]</ref>. A UNICEF study assessing child deprivation and monetary poverty in 29 European countries found 6.5% of children to be both deprived and poor, approximately 7% deprived but not poor, whilst an estimated 13% were living in poor families but were not deprived, indicating that poverty and poor well-being are not automatically interdependent<ref>[http://www.unicef-irc.org/publications/pdf/iwp_2012_02.pdf UNICEF Innocenti, 2012, UNICEF Innocenti Working Paper: Child deprivation, multidimensional poverty and monetary poverty in Europe, UNICEF]</ref>.
 
The family, instead of the child, is usually taken as the basic unit of analysis and, children are rarely directly surveyed. Parents have commonly been the respondents which prevents the gathering of data on subjective well-being and from children being treated as a completely independent group, with particular characteristics and needs and accordingly, responses and policy<ref>[http://www.springerlink.com/content/j7p2u6m201535p4t/fulltext.pdf Liliana Fernandes, Americo Mendes, Aurora A.C. Teixeira , 2011, A Review Essay on the Measurement of Child Well-Being, Social Indicator Research, (2012) 106:239-257]</ref>. Research has shown that asking children directly about what contributes to their well-being can lead to findings that may not have otherwise have been detected<ref>[http://www.neweconomics.org/sites/neweconomics.org/files/Backing_the_Future_Measuring.pdf A guide to measuring children’s well-being, 2009, NEF and Action for Children]</ref>
 
=== Benefits of child well-being measures to policy makers ===
Well-being during childhood is a fundamental human right outlined in the Convention on the Rights of the Child, and assuring it is a key obligation of families, communities and governments. Ensuring the fulfilment of rights and individual's well-being are fundamental objectives of social policy. Social indicators now play a determinant role in the formulation of social policies yet despite this, there is still a lack of appropriate indicators available to assess how children are progressing.

For policy makers and practitioners working in the area of child well-being and future outcomes for children, well-being measurement has the potential to inform them in three principal ways<ref>[http://www.neweconomics.org/sites/neweconomics.org/files/Backing_the_Future_Measuring.pdf A guide to measuring children’s well-being, 2009, NEF and Action for Children]</ref>:
 
Early identification of problems: through the monitoring of child well-being, early identification enables services and policy to respond in a timely and effective manner to changing needs. This approach also results in the more effective use of resources and the prevention of greater long term costs.
 
Identification of successful strategies: the gathering of evidence of the effectiveness of interventions allows for policy to be more effectively targeted and for more accurate assessments to be made as to the potential outcomes of implementing interventions in different settings and contexts. The ongoing monitoring and evaluation of interventions and policy through child well-being measures enables learning about what works and where improvements can be made.
 
Building of an evidence base: The use of child well-being indicators allow for the building of evidence for the argument of the importance of child well-being for long term outcomes<ref>[http://www.neweconomics.org/sites/neweconomics.org/files/Backing_the_Future_Measuring.pdf A guide to measuring children’s well-being, 2009, NEF and Action for Children]</ref>.

== See also ==
[[Child well-being measurement]] 
[[Early Childhood]] 
[[Child Nutrition]] 
[[Children and Sustainable Development]] 
[[Child poverty and inequality: New perspectives]] 
[[Progress in child well-being: Building on what works]] 
[[Childhood Poverty]] 
== References ==
<references />
[[Category:Child_well-being]]

Open data

2012-04-27T04:43:54Z

Philippa: Created page with "== Overview == Open data refers to the concept that certain data should be freely available to everyone to use and republish as they wish, without restrictions from copyright, pa..."

== Overview ==
Open data refers to the concept that certain data should be freely available to everyone to use and republish as they wish, without restrictions from copyright, patents or other mechanisms of control. The goals of the open data movement are similar to those of other "Open" movements such as open source, open content, and open access.

== Open Access ==
{{caution}}

== See also ==
*[[Wiki]]

[[Category:Statistics]]

Event:Whole Child Virtual Conference

2012-04-26T11:24:31Z

Whole Child:

{{AddEvent
|Date=03/05/2012
|City=Online
|Country=United States
|Summary=Moving from Implementation to Sustainability to Culture
}}
ASCD invites educators from around the globe to participate in this year’s free Whole Child Virtual Conference [http://www.ascd.org/wcvirtualconference www.ascd.org/wcvirtualconference] held May 3–11, 2012. This year’s theme is “Moving from Implementation to Sustainability to Culture,” and focuses on highlighting the great work of ASCD-associated schools, providing a forum in which educators who implement the whole child approach to education can learn from one another and presenters, and expanding awareness of a whole child approach to educators worldwide.

ASCD’s 2012 Whole Child Virtual Conference is provided at no cost to participants as part of the association’s Whole Child Initiative, and all sessions will be archived for future use. Twenty-four conference sessions will be held over seven days, starting at 9:00 a.m. eastern time and ending at 4:30 p.m., with 30-minute breaks between sessions.

In addition, ASCD will host two international sessions. These sessions will run for an Australasian time zone (May 4: Sydney 10:00–12:30/Singapore 8:00–10:30) and a European time zone (May 4: London 14:00–16:30/Paris 15:00–17:30) and will bring together experts from each region to discuss health, education, policy, and a whole child approach to education around the world.
== See also ==
*[[ASCD]]

Public Opinion - Measures of Progress

2012-04-26T06:58:01Z

Philippa: Created page with "== About == Within the Italian initiative “Benessere Equo e Sostenibile (Bes)” for measuring progress in Italy – www.misuredelbenessere.it - Cnel and Istat launched an onl..."

== About ==

Within the Italian initiative “Benessere Equo e Sostenibile (Bes)” for measuring progress in Italy – www.misuredelbenessere.it - Cnel and Istat launched an online consultation for a public evaluation of the twelve domains identified in 2011. The online survey took place between November 2011 and March 2012 and concluded the first phase of identification of domains for the measurement of equal and sustainable well-being.
The report published on March the 15th provides guidance for further work and confirms that the consensus on the importance of going "beyond GDP" is almost unanimous. Only 2% of respondents believe it is not important to consider not purely economic issues when assessing well-being and quality of life.

Not all respondents, however, consider equally important the 12 dimensions of well-being. Those considered most important are health (98%), environment (95.1%), education and training (92.4%) and quality of services (91.2%) while economic well-being (44.8%), satisfaction with their lives (44.3%), political participation and trust in institutions (37.2%), safety (30.3%) are considered important by a smaller share of people. The indications of the respondents do not seem to suggest real additional domains, they rather contribute to better specify some aspects of the dimensions already proposed.
Information given by respondents on Italian specificities in terms of quality of life are very clear: terms referring to the importance of the artistic, historical, and cultural landscape characterizing our country, along with the quality of food, the mild climate, the quality of social relations and the availability of a universal welfare system appear with rather higher frequency.

== Download the report ==
*[http://www.misuredelbenessere.it/fileadmin/relazione-questionarioBES.pdf Public Opinion - Measures of Progress] (Italian)

[[Category:Publications]]

Indicators to Policy

2012-04-25T07:45:20Z

Philippa: Created page with "{{Template:GPRNet}} In the March GPRNet meeting, members discussed key initiatives and publications relevant to measures of progress and va..."

{{Template:GPRNet}}

In the March [[Global Progress Research Network|GPRNet]] meeting, members discussed key initiatives and publications relevant to measures of progress and various policies around the world. Please contribute to the list below.

== Publications ==
*[[Life Beyond Growth]]

[[Category:GPRNet]]

Oxfam Humankind Index

2012-04-25T06:37:19Z

Philippa: /* See also */

== About ==
The Oxfam Humankind Index is the first assessment of Scotland's performance showing that overall prosperity has increased by 1.2% between 2007-08 and 2009-10. This is largely attributed to improvements in how people felt about their health and community spirit.

This rise in prosperity could have been larger, but was hampered by the impact of the economic downturn on the Scots. We found that between 2007-08 and 2009-10, there was a 43% fall in people's financial security, a 26% fall in the number of Scots feeling they had secure and suitable work, and a 24% fall in the number who thought they had enough money.

== More on the Index ==
*[http://policy-practice.oxfam.org.uk/our-work/poverty-in-the-uk/humankind-index Oxfam Humankind Index]

== See also ==
*[[United Kingdom]]

[[Category:Progress initiative]]

World Development Indicators 2012

2012-04-25T06:06:49Z

Philippa: Created page with "== About == World Development Indicators 2012 is the 16th edition of the publication and database; updates contain updated data through 2010 and 2011 for many indicators. Highli..."

== About ==
World Development Indicators 2012 is the 16th edition of the publication and database; updates contain updated data through 2010 and 2011 for many indicators. Highlights from 2012 include:
*more recent data on poverty at international poverty lines for more countries, including global and regional estimates
*measures of malnutrition disaggregated by sex
*health indicators disaggregated by income quintile
*data on carbon dioxide emissions by economic sector
*data on climate variability, exposure to impact, and resilience

== Link to full report and data ==
*[http://data.worldbank.org/data-catalog/world-development-indicators World Development Indicators 2012]

[[Category:Publications]]

Institute for Advanced Behavioural Studies

2012-04-24T15:28:15Z

GallupWiki: /* External links */

== About ==
[[Image:logo-rot_v1_sm_wo-logo5.png|right]]{{Progress_Initiative| organisation=IFABS| country=[[Global]]| focus=[[Wellbeing]]| website=http://www.ifabs.eu/}}
 
 
 
 

The non-profit Institute for Advanced Behavioural Studies (IFABS) has been set up to foster the exchange of ideas between researchers interested in the behavioural sciences.

The Luxembourg-based institute brings together and connects researchers who wish to investigate issues at the frontier of behavioural economics and solve related problems using new innovative means of analysis.

As part of its mission IFABS organises dedicated events on well-being and behavioural economics.

== See also ==
*[[Gallup Social and Economic Analysis]]

== External links ==
*[http://www.ifabs.eu Website of the Institute for Advanced Behavioural Studies]

[[Category:Wellbeing]]
[[Category:Luxembourg]]

Child poverty and inequality: New perspectives

2012-04-24T13:50:31Z

Hannah:

== About ==
This report is a compilation of essays from those leading the debate on the issue of child poverty and inequalities. It draws on more than two years of UNICEF’s work collaborating with leading thinkers on these matters. The submissions in the report discuss child poverty measurement, trends in global poverty and inequality, outcomes for children, and policies to address them.

== Child poverty and inequality ==
The report highlights the significance of poverty and inequality on children and how their experience of it differs from that of adults due to their specific needs. While an adult may enter into a situation of poverty temporarily, a short-term experience for children can have long-term consequences due to impacts on their physical and cognitive growth and development, their access to education and the lifetime consequences that deprivation in these areas can have. If children are inadequately nourished, their physical and intellectual growth and capacity is impaired, they are more vulnerable to disease, have poorer educational outcomes and are less likely to develop into productive members of society. The report states that in this respect, child poverty has the capacity to create and continue cycles of intergenerational poverty, entrenching and worsening inequality in society.

== Measurement ==
The report commences with a revision of how poverty is measured, emphasising the value of new multidimensional poverty measurements to better reflect the situation of children in the world. It documents that based on the traditional measurement of an international extreme poverty line of $1 a day, the total number of poor people around the world has declined drastically. Nevertheless, it notes the shortcomings of many estimates such as this one which due to factors such as of failing to adjust figures over time in line with inflation and the generalised macro scale at which measurement is taken fails to accurately represent the actual extent of poverty within countries and the communities within them. Additionally, the report reveals that even if extreme poverty has reduced significantly in some countries, inequalities in income and wealth has increased indicating an inequitable pace of progress.

To access the complete report see [http://www.unicef.org/socialpolicy/files/Child_Poverty_Inequality_FINAL_web.pdf here].
[[Category:Child well-being]]

Progress in child well-being: Building on what works

2012-04-23T09:43:24Z

Hannah:

This report argues for increased investment in ‘childsensitive’ development and specifies the drivers of change and the key steps to achieving progress in child well-being over the last twenty years. The argument for investing in children is based on the moral obligation of countries to address child deprivation as well as the potential economic benefits for countries which include higher productivity, lower population growth and child and infant mortality.

Investment in children and their well-being is put forward as a crucial factor in breaking the cycle of intergenerational poverty. It is stated that investment in adolescents increases the likelihood of countries to achieve [[demographic dividend]]s whereby the youth of a country's population reach adulthood with the skills to be productive members of society and the economy, assisting growth social and political cohesion.

== About ==
This report analyses improvements made to children’s lives over the past two decades in five sectors: health, nutrition, water and sanitation, education and child protection. It states that there was a short time available for the project and as a result in depth analysis of other areas important to [[child well-being]], such as governance, were not able to be carried out. Accordingly the report seeks to provide a 'broad brushstroke' of research findings of the five sectors.

Section 1 offers an introduction to the report and is followed by section 2 which gives an overview of global trends in income poverty. Section 3 goes into detail on the progress achieved in each of the five areas associated with child well-being: health (focus on child survival and prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV); nutrition; water and sanitation; education (including early childhood development); and child protection. Within each sector an overview of progress in the developing world is offered and factors contributing to successes are highlighted. One or more case studies are offered for each sector.

=== Case studies ===
The report includes case studies of countries that have made significant progress in improving certain areas of children’s well-being in recent decades:
[[Bangladesh]] - reductions in child mortality due to consistent investment in child health.
[[Brazil]] - lowered prevalence of stunting and underweight children through a combination of interventions in conjunction with a large-scale cash transfer scheme
[[Botswana]] - decline in HIV prevalence amongst children due to the introduction of a programme targeting the reduction of mother-to-child transmission of HIV, free testing of HIV for pregnant women and free antiretrovirals for those women found to be living with HIV
[[Ethiopia]] - rise in primary school enrolment following greater government investment in facilities, a rise in the quality of education and gender parity, the abolishment of school fees, and the introduction of programmes designed to target disadvantaged children.
[[Vietnam]] - decline in absolute poverty in recent decades, partly due to an explicitly child focused development strategy that included increased spending on children's health, nutrition, education and access to clean water and sanitation.

=== Measuring progress ===
The methodology employed for the report included a desk review and analysis of primary and secondary data carried out between August and October 2011. The objective was to identify trends in child well-being over the past two decades, document successes and identify the factors that contributed to this, with a particular emphasis on resourcing and the role of aid. Collation of existing evidence of trends in child well-being, case studies of significant improvements in child well-being and analysis of the factors underpinning successes was undertaken using secondary sources.

These above results were complemented with analysis of primary data on trends in aid flows to particular sectors and countries and, analysis of the relationship between aid and certain elements of child well-being. The principal research question for this section was 'have countries that received the most aid also made the most progress improving the lives of children?'. To answer it, the relationship between the average annual quantity of aid received by each country during the last ten years (where data was available) and the average annual improvement in childhood outcomes over the same period, specifically infant mortality, childhood malnutrition and the number of children living with HIV, were calculated.

Analysis was restricted to sub-Saharan Africa as other regions were found to lack enough data or had too few countries to permit cross country analysis. A broad measure of aid was employed to ensure that all forms of aid relevant to the areas of childhood outcomes were captured.

=== Drivers of progress ===
The report states that specific factors drive progress. These are: 
- Government commitment 
- Social investment and economic growth 
- Development assistance 
- Multidimensional, well-planned and implemented programmes 
- Reducing inequities, including gender inequality 
- New technology and innovation

=== Download the full report ===

To access the complete report see [http://resourcecentre.savethechildren.se/node/5868 here].

=== See also ===
[[Category:Child well-being]]

Event:Launch of the 2012 Social Institutions and Gender Index

2012-04-23T09:40:13Z

Estelle:

{{AddEvent
|Date=10/05/2012
|City=Washington D.C.
|Country=United States
|Summary=Launch of the 2012 Social Institutions and Gender Index
}}
The updated 2012 Social Institutions and Gender Index, measuring discrimination against women for over 100 countries, will be launched in Washington on 10 May.

*[http://wikigender.org/index.php/Launch_of_the_2012_Social_Institutions_and_Gender_Index Find out more] about the launch and how you can attend.
*Stay tuned on [http://www.genderindex.org www.genderindex.org]!

Africa's Pulse Vol. 5

2012-04-19T06:35:42Z

Philippa: Created page with "== About == The Africa Pulse is published by the Office of the Chief Economist of the Africa Region at the World Bank. The global recovery remains weak and fragile, amid som..."

== About ==
The Africa Pulse is published by the Office of the Chief Economist of the Africa Region at the [[World Bank]].

The global recovery remains weak and fragile, amid some signs of improvement.
Sub-Saharan African countries are continuing to see steady growth, but global uncertainties weigh on the region’s prospects and policy landscape.
The World Bank’s latest poverty estimates show that the number of people living in poverty in Africa has declined--a first for the region.
Food insecurity looms large in several countries in the Sahel region of West Africa, as the sub-region is buffeted by drought, poor food accessibility, and population displacement due to conflict.
In an environment of high fuel prices, fuel subsides are imposing a large and unsustainable fiscal burden, while disproportionately benefiting the rich.

== Download the report ==
*[http://siteresources.worldbank.org/INTAFRICA/Resources/Africas-Pulse-brochure_Vol5.pdf Africa's Pulse Vol. 5]

[[Category:Publications]]

Doing Business

2012-04-17T10:18:59Z

Philippa: /* Link to Doing Business Index */

== About ==
The Doing Business Project is a joint project between the [[World Bank]] and the International Finance Corporation. It ranks economies according to on their ease of doing business, from 1 – 183.

A high ranking represents ease of doing business: it means that the regulatory environment is more conducive to the starting and operation of a local firm. This index averages the country's percentile rankings on 10 topics, made up of a variety of indicators, giving equal weight to each topic. The rankings for all economies are benchmarked to June 2011.

== Link to Doing Business Index ==
*[http://www.doingbusiness.org/rankings Doing Business]

== Methodology ==
*[http://www.doingbusiness.org/~/media/FPDKM/Doing%20Business/Documents/Annual-Reports/English/DB12-Chapters/Ease-of-doing-business.pdf Doing Business Methodology Report]

[[Category: Progress initiative]] [[Category: Economy]] [[Category:Statistics]]

Vietnam: Summary Report General Nutrition Survey 2009-2010

2012-04-16T11:49:20Z

Hannah:

== Report background ==
The General Nutrition Survey was carried out during 2009 and 2010 by the National Institute of Nutrition (NIN), as entrusted by the Ministry of Health and in close collaboration with UNICEF, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Food Agriculture Organization (FAO). This was facilitated through the United Nations Joint Programme on Integrated Nutrition and Food Security Strategies, which is supported by the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) Achievement Fund. 
The report states that progress or, existing issues of health-nutrition should be monitored for the purpose of developing early interventions and effective prevention strategies. Whilst Vietnam has achieved considerable success in addressing factors which threaten the nutritional health status of its people,including hunger, poverty and child malnourishment, issues prevail. The report states that in order to achieve this the General Nutrition Survey (GNS) should be conducted every ten years to allow for the assessment of the current nutritional situation and to provide analysis of correlative factors and to identify risk factors. 
A key finding of the survey and the subsequent report was that one in three children under the age of five in Vietnam does not currently meet their full height potential. This situation is linked with serious consequences on cognitive, social, and economic outcomes. 
Survey results were used as an evidence bases for development of Action Plan for Nutrition in new period 2011-2020. The objective of this GNS is to assess nutritional status, household food consumption and other nutrition related issues in Vietnamese people, particularly children under 5 years old. 
=== About the survey ===
The survey was implemented in 512 randomly selected communes of 432 districts in 64 provinces (the administrative boundaries of provinces and cities in Vietnam before 2008). The data collection method mainly consisted of interviews, anthropometric measurement, 24-hour dietary recall and basic information retrieved from health centres at communal, district and provincial levels. Data was analyzed using Stata 11 with cluster sampling survey correction. This was undertaken with the assistance of an international data analysis expert. The anthropometric indicators of children were analyzed based on WHO 2007 standard reference. 
To source the complete document see [http://www.unicef.org/eapro/media_18458.html here].
[[Category:Child well-being]]

If Rio+20 is to deliver, Accountability must be at its heart

2012-04-13T15:50:15Z

OusmaneAly: /* About */

== About ==

"If Rio+20 is to deliver, Accountability must be at its heart" is an open letter by Special Procedures mandate-holders of the Human Rights Council (HRC) that call for more accountability by national countries and organizations and a binding outcome at the end of the [[Rio+20]] Conference. The risk of the Conference ending without any significant commitment (binding) towards sustainable development seems to be one of the main concerns of the authors, along with integrating human rights issues in the sustainable development topic."Rio+20 should ground global commitments in human rights. It should enable citizens to monitor the commitments of their Governments. And it should put accountability, the foundation of a human rights-based approach to development, at the core of its commitments"<ref>[http://www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/SP/Pages/OpenLetterRio20.aspx Open Letter: If Rio+20 is to deliver, Accountability must be at its heart]</ref>

The mandate-holders called for a series of proposals to be included in the outcome document of the UN [[Rio+20 Summit]].

* Frame Rio+20 in all human rights: following the recommendation of the High-level Panel on sustainable development in [[Resilient People, Resilient Planet: A Future worth choosing.]], the [[Rio+20]] document should integrate specific references to all human rights, which are interdependent and mutually reinforcing.

* Define commitments and measures of success in a participatory way (and transparent one): with indicators measuring the progress of nations into the path of sustainable development.

* Accountability mechanisms for [[Rio+20]] commitments through

:* An international review mechanism: with the Sustainable Development Council to monitor progress on the Sustainable Development Goals (on the basis of indicators agreed upon by the States)

:* National accountability mechanism with states establishing accountability mechanisms to ensure commitments made in Rio+20 are fulfilled.

== See also ==
[[Human Rights]]

[[Sustainable development]]

[[Rio+20]]

[[Category: Sustainable Development]] [[Category: Rio+20]] [[Category: Human Rights]] [[Category: Publications]]

[[Resilient People, Resilient Planet: A Future worth choosing.]]

== References ==

<references />

== External links ==
* [http://www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/SP/Pages/OpenLetterRio20.aspx Open Letter: If Rio+20 is to deliver, Accountability must be at its heart]

Vietnam Urbanisation Review

2012-04-13T07:28:27Z

Philippa: Created page with "== About == As Vietnam enters a crucial period of urbanization corresponding to its present stage of economic development, the Government of Vietnam has placed strong emphasis on..."

== About ==
As Vietnam enters a crucial period of urbanization corresponding to its present stage of economic development, the Government of Vietnam has placed strong emphasis on developing its system of cities. In accordance with this objective this Urbanization Review is dedicated to understanding the key dimensions and aspects of Vietnam's urbanization process and to identifying trends, opportunities, challenges and core policy priorities that the government will need to address in order to realize its objective. The Vietnam Urbanization Review was prepared following extensive consultations with various stakeholders, including officials from national and local government, private sector groups and international and bilateral organizations active in development assistance in the urban sector in Vietnam. It builds on a strong portfolio of World Bank engagements in investment and policy lending to the Government of Vietnam. It also builds on a number of more in-depth studies that were commissioned specifically for the Vietnam urbanization review

The review was produced by the [[World Bank]]

== Download the report ==
*[http://www-wds.worldbank.org/external/default/WDSContentServer/WDSP/IB/2012/02/19/000356161_20120219230147/Rendered/PDF/669160ESW0P1130Review000Full0report.pdf Vietnam Urbanisation Review]

== See also ==
*[[Vietnam]]
*[[Urbanisation]]

One World Trust Foundation

2012-04-12T11:00:12Z

OusmaneAly: Created page with "== About == The Foundation One World Trust that conducts research and develops recommendations and reforms to make policy and decision-making processes pertaining to global gov..."

== About ==

The Foundation One World Trust that conducts research and develops recommendations and reforms to make policy and decision-making processes pertaining to global governance, more accountable and close to people affected by them and that international laws and regulations are strong enough to be applied equally to all.

== Projects ==

=== [http://www.oneworldtrust.org/accountableorganisations Accountable Organisations] ===

One Trust Foundation has two projects on this topic:

* [http://www.oneworldtrust.org/accountableorganisations/gar Global Accountability Report (GAR)] which assesses the accountability of the world's most powerful organisations to the people they affect. The Report analyses organisations from the intergovernmental, corporate and non-governmental sectors, according to four dimensions: transparency, participation, evaluation, and complaint and response mechanisms. The organisations are assessed on how they integrate key accountability principles into their organisational policies and the management systems. Together policies and systems make up an organisation’s accountability capability.

* [http://www.oneworldtrust.org/accountableorganisations/ifimdb International Financial Institutions and Multilateral Development Banks] which exercises increasingly strong influence on people's lives. One World Trust Foundation monitors and analyses governance and accountability issues facing these institutions and share the findings o with decision-makers at the national and international levels while seeking to support organisational reform of IFIs and MDBs to ensure that they become more transparent, effective and responsive to the needs of people they affect

== [http://www.oneworldtrust.org/citizensanddemocracy Citizen and Democracy] ==

One World Trust's work on accountability principles, regulation and self-regulation for Civil Society Organizations, and on the effectiveness of Parliaments aims to strengthen the democratic power of citizens in national and global governance by ensuring that those who claim to represent and work for them do so effectively and on an accountable basis.

== [http://www.oneworldtrust.org/aria Accountability of Research, Innovation and Advocacy (ARIA)] ==

The ARIA programme supports researchers and innovators a framework to analyse their accountability, and to institution processes of institutional change to improve the quality, relevance and legitimacy of their work.

== [http://www.oneworldtrust.org/global-environmental-governance-and-human-security Global Environmental Governance and Human Security] ==

The slow progress of responses to climate change and other threats to human security such as armed conflict and global poverty and inequality, shows that the current global governance system is struggling to meet its obligations to citizens. Through research on accountability, equity and justice in global environmental governance and the evolving norm of the responsibility to protect we seek to gain a more detailed understanding of the institutional and paradigmatic bottlenecks in the world’s approach to solving major challenges and propose ways forward for a more effective global system to address human security issues.

== See also ==

[[Governance]]

[[Governance Statistics]]

== References ==

<references />

== External links ==

[[http://www.oneworldtrust.org/index.php One World Trust Foundation website]]

[[Category: Progress Initiatives]] [[Category: Governance]]

Do Cash Transfers Improve Birth Outcomes? Evidence from Matched Vital Statistics, Social Security and Program Data

2012-04-12T10:21:36Z

OusmaneAly: Created page with "== About == The publication by Verónica Amarante, Marco Manacorda, Edward Miguel and Andrea Vigorito is an analysis of the impact of in utero exposure in Uruguay to a cash soc..."

== About ==

The publication by Verónica Amarante, Marco Manacorda, Edward Miguel and Andrea Vigorito is an analysis of the impact of in utero exposure in Uruguay to a cash social assistance program – the Uruguayan Plan de Atención Nacional a la Emergencia Social (PANES), which provided households with a sizeable transfer – on children’s early health outcomes.

== Methodology ==

The authors used data from hospital, vital statistics, programs and social security records to test their hypotheses.

== Main Results ==

The results of this quantitative study shows that since there is a visible drop in the incidence of low birthweight among children with positive program exposure relative to those born before the mother entered the program (with negative exposure). There is an additional drop among those whose mother entered the program in the second semester of pregnancy (who had at least one full
trimester of exposure)<ref>http://www.nber.org/papers/w17690.pdf?new_window=1</ref>.

Beyond that, the incidence of low birthweight remains roughly constant
(with some apparent sampling variability), implying that there is no additional gain for mothers
entering the program even earlier in the pregnancy or before conception. Participation of children in the program improves low birthweight (which falls by 1.5%) and mean child birth weight increases by 23 to 30 grams. Authors speculate that the reduced work hours of mothers might have had a significant impact on the birth weight outcomes.

Overall, the study shows that PANES contributed in reducing birth weight while confirming many different channels
hypothesized in the literature appear to contribute to the overall reduction in low birth weight, including improved maternal nutrition and reduced smoking.

Uruguay's good infant health measures and nearly universal access to prenatal care are hailed as examples for Latin American Countries and other wealthier societies by the authors.

== See also ==

[[Child well-being]]

[[Uruguay]]

[[Under-Five Mortality Rate]]

[[Child Development Index]]
== References ==
<references />

== External links ==

[[http://www.nber.org/papers/w17690.pdf?new_window=1 Do Cash Transfers Improve Birth Outcomes? Evidence from Matched Vital Statistics, Social Security and Program Data]]]

[[Category: Publications]] [[Category: Uruguay]] [[Category: Child Well-Being]]

Putting constituencies’ wellbeing at the heart of policy-making: Political utopia or necessary paradigm shift?

2012-04-11T12:20:08Z

GallupWiki: Wellbeing event

{{AddEvent
|Date=24/04/2012
|City=Brussels
|Country=Belgium
|Summary=Gallup Learn@Lunch
}}
By invitation only. More info at:
http://eu.gallup.com/Brussels/153809/Learn-Lunch-Constituencies-Wellbeing.aspx

Behavioural Economics in Policy-Making: Rational Need or just Fashionable?

2012-04-11T12:14:16Z

GallupWiki: BE Event

{{AddEvent
|Date=17/04/2012
|City=Brussels
|Country=Belgium
|Summary=Workshop on using lessons from behavioural economics in policy-making
}}
In this half-day workshop we will address the challenges to implement behavioural lessons in different areas of policy. The [http://eu.gallup.com Gallup Organisation Europe]and the Institute for Advanced Behavioural Studies (IFABS) are thus pleased to invite you to discuss: “Behavioural Economics in Policy-Making: Rational Need or just Fashionable?”

The event will be held on Gallup premises from 13.00 to 18.00 on April 17th.
More info and registration details at: http://eu.gallup.com/Brussels/153677/Workshop-Behavioural-Economics.aspx

Rapid Impact and Vulnerability Analysis Fund

2012-04-11T07:38:02Z

Philippa: Created page with "== About == Under the umbrella of the Rapid Impact and Vulnerability Analysis Fund (RIVAF), Global Pulse supported a series of studies and research projects, which were undertake..."

== About ==
Under the umbrella of the Rapid Impact and Vulnerability Analysis Fund (RIVAF), Global Pulse supported a series of studies and research projects, which were undertaken by eleven UN agencies, between 2010 and 2011. The topics represented in these eight research projects, present a unique view of how the global economic crisis has affected a variety of different sectors across the globe.

== Download the report ==
*[http://www.unglobalpulse.org/sites/default/files/FINAL%20RIVAF%20REPORT%20COMPILED.pdf Rapid Impact and Vulnerability Analysis Fund]

[[Category:Publications]]

Social and emotional wellbeing: development of a children's headline indicator

2012-04-10T22:40:19Z

Hannah:

== About ==
Developed by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW), the Children’s Headline Indicators are a set of measures designed to focus policy and to help guide and evaluate policy development on issues central to children’s health, development and wellbeing in 19 priority areas. The Indicators were endorsed by health, community and disability services ministers and education systems officials in 2006. Headline Indicators were defined for 16 of these priority areas however, more work was required on the remaining three: family social network, social and emotional wellbeing and shelter. This work was needed to conceptualise and identify the most important aspects of these areas for children’s health, development and [[wellbeing.

This report published in April, 2012 outlines the process of developing a Headline Indicator for the social and emotional well-being priority area.

=== Identifying and defining a Headline Indicator ===
The process of developing a Headline Indicator for social and emotional wellbeing involved:

•conceptualising social and emotional well-being: definition of its scope, theoretical basis, and main elements
•reviewing the literature on social and emotional well-being and children’s outcomes
•identifying possible indicators by reviewing indicator frameworks and reports
•consulting key experts and stakeholders.

Based on this research and consultation, the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) population measure was strongly supported as the most appropriate tool for measuring social and emotional wellbeing in children. This instrument has been extensively validated, and is used widely, both internationally and in Australia. Modified versions have also been developed for Indigenous children. It is recommended that a Children’s Headline Indicator for social and emotional wellbeing, based on the SDQ, be defined as the proportion of children scoring ‘of concern’ on the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire.

=== Future work ===
At present there is no national data source in Australia suitable for reporting on the recommended Headline Indicator for social and emotional wellbeing. The report states that work is needed to determine the most appropriate data collection method and vehicle for this Headline Indicator and recommends specific consideration be given to a large-scale national survey, that:

•uses children as the counting unit
•captures demographic information
•allows disaggregation by state and territory for subpopulations of children (for example, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children).

Alternatively, it is proposed that the SDQ could be incorporated in a standardised manner into state/territory-based population health surveys; however, survey methods would need to be considered to ensure comparable data.

To access the complete report see [http://www.aihw.gov.au/WorkArea/DownloadAsset.aspx?id=10737421521 here]

[[Category:Child_well-being]]

The Global Parliamentary Report

2012-04-10T11:22:43Z

Philippa: Created page with "== About == The UNDP Global Parliamentary Report focuses on the relationship between citizens and parliaments. The aims analyse how citizens’ expectations are changing, and how..."

== About ==
The UNDP Global Parliamentary Report focuses on the relationship between citizens and parliaments. The aims analyse how citizens’ expectations are changing, and how parliaments, politicians and parliamentary staff are responding.

The report identifies three dominant pressures facing parliaments.
*information and influence in parliamentary work
*accountability and responsiveness to public concerns
*service and delivery to meet citizens’ needs

The report uses the experience of institutions and individual politicians to illustrate the challenges and the variety of initiatives aimed at enhancing parliamentary representation in different parts of the world. It aims to help parliaments and politicians understand the pressures better, identify some of the tensions that they need to manage and provide examples of good practice which might offer insight, inspiration or emulation.

== Link to full text ==
*[http://www.undp.org/content/undp/en/home/librarypage/democratic-governance/the-global-parliamentary-report.html The Global Parliamentary Report]

[[Category:Publications]]

Children and Sustainable Development

2012-04-09T09:05:37Z

Benoit:

== Sustainable development ==
A definition of [[Sustainable development]] commonly applied is that of the Brundtland Report of 1987 which describes it as "development which meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs". <ref>[http://www.un-documents.net/ocf-ov.htm#I.3 UN documents: Our Common Future, From One Earth to One World From A/42/427. Our Common Future: Report of the World Commission on Environment and Development</ref>

[[Sustainable development]] refers to concern for the capacity of natural systems to support their populations along with the social challenges facing humanity. As early as the 1970s "sustainability" was employed to describe an economy "in equilibrium with basic ecological support systems."<ref>Stivers, R. 1976. The Sustainable Society: Ethics and Economic Growth. Philadelphia: Westminster Press</ref> The term covers a broad range of topics which can be conceptually categorised into three principal areas: environmental sustainability, economic sustainability and sociopolitical sustainability. In this respect it cuts across environmental issues such as the use and management of natural resources, combatting climate change, disaster risk reduction and the protection of biodiversity, as well as social and economic aspects of poverty reduction, promoting health and sustainable human settlements. Finally in regards to sociopolitical sustainability, democracy and citizen participation are also crucial to sustainable development.

== Sustainable development and child well-being ==
There is a direct link between the environment and [child well-being]. Environmental quality is a key factor determining a child's likelihood of survival in their first years of life and has a strong influence on their physical and mental development. Environmental threats to children include: lack of safe water and sanitation; chemical pollution and radiation; Indoor and outdoor air pollution; and natural resource degradation.<ref>[http://www.unep.org/ceh/children.pdf UNICEF report Children in the New Millenium: Environmental Impact on Health]</ref>

Children are more vulnerable to environmental hazards because of their physical size, immature organs, metabolic rate, behaviour, natural curiosity, and lack of knowledge. Up to one-third of the global burden of disease can be attributed to adverse environmental factors, including polluted air, dirty water, poor sanitation, and insect-transmitted diseases such as malaria and, an estimated two-thirds of the global burden of environment-related disease is borne by children.<ref>[http://www.unep.org/ceh/children.pdf UNICEF report Children in the New Millenium: Environmental Impact on Health]</ref>

In terms of social and economic impacts, child well-being can be impacted upon through increased poverty and poorer health outcomes due to a family's reduced food production capacity, limited access to [freshwater] and food insecurity. At least 3.5 million under-five deaths annually and more than 10% of global disease can be attributed to under nutrition.<ref>[http://www.mdgfund.org/content/childrenfoodsecurityandnutrition United Nations MDG Fund Children, Food Security and Nutrition]</ref>

Excessive and wasteful consumption, social inequities and inefficient resource use perpetuate a vicious cycle of pollution and resource degradation that contribute to poverty and the erosion of livelihoods. Poor people most commonly inhabit ecologically fragile areas such as arid or near desert areas, flood prone and low lying regions, overcrowded urban slums and refugee camps where natural resources are scarce and environmental conditions arduous.<ref>[http://www.unep.org/ceh/children.pdf UNICEF report Children in the New Millenium: Environmental Impact on Health]</ref> [Inequality] has become increasingly severe both between and within countries since the 1980s as a a small proportion of the world's population continue to consume a larger share of resources than their poorer counterparts intensifying poverty and aggravating environmental pollution and having a disproportionate impact on children whose health and developmental well-being are more exposed by poverty.<ref>[http://www.unep.org/ceh/children.pdf UNICEF report Children in the New Millenium: Environmental Impact on Health]</ref>

== Children and disasters ==
Children aged 0-8 represent the highest percentage of persons affected by global emergencies today. Poor health, neurological damage, antisocial behaviours, violence, and cognitive regression can result from acute stress and distress during the early years (Grantham-McGregor et al., 2007). For these reasons young children have been identified as one of the most vulnerable populations when contexts become disrupted or fragile.<ref>[http://www.arnec.net/ntuc/slot/u2323/publication/Disaster%20Risk%20Reduction3_small.pdf ARNEC publication Hayden J, Cologon K, 2011, Disaster Risk Reduction and Young Children: Assessing needs at the community level, ARNEC, UNICEF, Macquarie University</ref>

Families, caregivers and safe environments are critical for well-being and the loss or disruption to social supports and protective systems further increase children's vulnerability. During emergency situations the risk of abuse, exploitation and violence towards children is increased, particularly for girls and children with disabilities, due to a breakdown in law and order systems. <ref>http://www.arnec.net/ntuc/slot/u2323/publication/Disaster%20Risk%20Reduction3_small.pdf ARNEC publication Hayden J, Cologon K, 2011, Disaster Risk Reduction and Young Children: Assessing needs at the community level, ARNEC, UNICEF, Macquarie University]</ref>

Two thirds of the world's child population live in the 42 countries affected by some crisis between 2002-2006. Over 40% of the 16 million refugees and 26 million internally displaced persons are children and they often constitute more than one third of the death toll from disasters.<ref>[http://www.arnec.net/ntuc/slot/u2323/publication/Disaster%20Risk%20Reduction3_small.pdf ARNEC publication Hayden J, Cologon K, 2011, Disaster Risk Reduction and Young Children: Assessing needs at the community level, ARNEC, UNICEF, Macquarie University]</ref>

==Measuring the impact on children ==
Certain social indicators can be used to derive some measurement of the impact of environmental degradation and disasters on on society, including children, based on a methodology that examines the gap between what existed prior to the disaster or impact and what was destroyed.<ref>[http://www.eclac.org/notes/62/titular02.html ECLAC Notes, Natural Disasters Cause Nearly US$7 billion in Material Losses a Year, November 2009]</ref> In regards to children, These relevant indicators include infant, under 5 and maternal mortality rates; child malnutrition rates and rates of stunting.

== The role of children in sustainable development ==
As stated by Agenda 21, the plan of action of the United Nations for organizations of the UN System, Governments, and Major Groups in every area in which human impacts on the environment, 'youth comprise nearly 30 per cent of the world's population and their involvement in environment and development decision-making and in the implementation of programmes is critical to the long-term success of Agenda 21 and ultimately in achieving sustainable development. <ref>[http://www.un.org/esa/dsd/agenda21/res_agenda21_25.shtml UNEP Agenda 21, Section III Strengthening the Role of Major Groups, Chapter 25 Children & Youth in Sustainable Development]</ref>

== See also ==
[[Sustainable development]] 
[[Child well-being]] 
[[Freshwater]] 
[[Childhood poverty]]

== References ==
<references />

== External links ==
*[http://www.unep.org/tunza/children/About.aspx UNEP Children and Youth]
*[http://www.un.org/esa/dsd/agenda21/res_agenda21_25.shtml UNDESA Agenda 21]
*[http://www.unicef.org/events/wssd/ UNICEF Invest in Children Advance Sustainable Development]
*[http://www.eclac.cl/cgi-bin/getprod.asp?xml=/noticias/paginas/4/36404/P36404.xml&xsl=/tpl-i/p18f.xsl&base=/tpl-i/top-bottom.xsl UNECLAC Economic and Social Disaster Assessment Unit]

[[Category:Child_well-being]][[Category:Sustainable Development]]

UNICEF Humanitarian Action for Children 2012 Report

2012-04-09T07:14:51Z

Hannah:

== About ==

The Humanitarian Action for Children report, previously known as Humanitarian Action Report is an annual publication by UNICEF which details the situation for children and women affected by emergencies around the globe. Each edition gives an overview of the emergencies and crises in regions and countries in that year, funding requirements for the current year, stories of individual's experiences, a review of emergency funding in the previous year as well as PDF versions of the Report, multimedia content and more.

As stated by UNICEF's Executive Director Anthony Lake, "Whilst catastrophes don't discriminate, they most severely affect those least able to withstand them: The most vulnerable children, living in the poorest and most isolated places, subject to the greatest deprivations". The 2012 report describes the work undertaken by UNICEF, in collaboration with their partners, and the assistance offered to both individuals requiring immediate help from an acute crisis and those subjected to the effects of complex long term emergency situations. As detailed by the report, in 2011 this assistance was given in response to political violence in the Côte d'Ivoire which caused 1 million people to be displaced and left many children vulnerable to protection failures; the famine in the Horn of Africa, in particular Somalia where 108,000 children were treated by UNICEF for malnutrition and; the massive flooding in the Pakistani provinces of Sindh and Balochistan which forced many people to flee their homes and created a food security crisis disrupting children's access to health and education services and nutritional food.

The report also details the US$1.28 billion worth of resources required to respond to emergencies in more than 25 different countries throughout the world in 2012. For more information and to download the report in full see [http://www.unicef.org/hac2012/files/HAC2012_LOW__WEB_Final.pdf here].
 
[[File:Hac2012_hp_lead_image.jpg‎|120px|link=http://www.unicef.org/hac2012/files/HAC2012_LOW__WEB_Final.pdf]]

[[Category:Child_well-being]]

Time Distance in Economics and Statistics – New Insights from Existing Data

2012-04-06T09:55:18Z

JHajnsek:

{{Publications|title=Time Distance in Economics and Statistics – New Insights from Existing Data|author=Pavle Sicherl|organisation=SICENTER (Socio-economic Indicators Center), Ljubljana, Slovenia|date=January 2012|type=Book}}
== Overview ==
[[File:PS_book_front.jpg|200px|left]]
Time distance is an innovative approach for looking at time-series data. It uses two generic statistical measures, S-time-distance and S-time-step to complement existing methods. Expressed in time units are easy to understand by policymakers, professionals, managers, media and the general public; they can be compared across variables, fields of concern, and units of comparison. 

The broader conceptual and analytical framework defines the concept of the ‘overall degree of disparity’ combining static and time distance measures of disparity with the potential to bring new understanding in economics, management, research and statistics. 

Empirical applications deal with the overview of time distance disparities in the world, OECD countries, selected EU countries, regional disparities, transition depression in historical perspective, ICT and digital divide, and monitoring implementation of UN Millennium Development Goals and Lisbon strategy in the EU.
 
 
 
 

== Comments on time distance ==
„The usual metrics for comparing two lines involves differences along the vertical axis. This can be a poor way of measuring how these trends vary in terms of time, which is on the horizontal axis.“ … „Sicherl's several works have presented a non-technical discussion of the theory of time-distance.“ … „Observed time distance is a dynamic measure of temporal disparity between the two series, intuitively clear, readily measurable, and in transparent units which are comparable across a pairing of indicators and indicated variables. It is suggested that one should complement conventional vertical measures with horizontal measures.“ (Granger and Jeon 1997)

'''C.W.J. Granger''' / '''Y. Jeon''', University of California at San Diego
 
 

„Time distance is a generic concept. That means that, as it has been the case e.g. with spreadsheet, one cannot in advance specify all the uses to which a generic framework can be put by imaginative users in numerous fields.“

'''J. Backhouse''', Information Science Department, London School of Economics
 
 

== More information ==
*[http://www.echoraum.at/edition/wisdomechoraum18.htm Time Distance in Economics and Statistics]
 

== See also ==
*[[Visualisation of 50 years of OECD countries at a glance]]
*[http://www.gaptimer.eu/ Gaptimer]

[[Category:Publications]]

Demographic dividend

2012-04-04T10:54:40Z

Hannah:

== Overview ==
In effect a demographic dividend occurs due to a demographic transition whereby falling birth rates change the age distribution of a country so that fewer investments are required to meet the needs of the younger sector of the population. During this period the labour force temporarily grows more rapidly than the population dependent on it, releasing resources for investment in economic development and family welfare and resulting in faster per capita income growth.<ref>[http://www.policyproject.com/pubs/generalreport/Demo_Div.pdf John Ross, 2004, Understanding the Demographic Dividend]</ref>

This dividend period is not permanent rather it lasts approximately five decades or more. It is not automatic either and some countries that take advantage of the released resources and use them effectively will receive greater benefits than others. Those that don’t capitalize on the opportunity may in fact be in a weaker position<ref>[http://www.relooney.info/00_New_916.pdf Ronald Lee and Andrew Mason What Is the Demographic Dividend]</ref> and faced with the problem of a youth bulge - a demographic trend where the proportion of persons aged 15-24 in the population increases significantly compared to other age groups - which paired with limited employment opportunities may contribute to increased poverty, hunger, malnutrition, poorer health, lower educational outcomes, child labour, unsupervised and abandoned children, and rising rates of domestic violence. <ref>[http://www.unicef.org/socialpolicy/files/Global_Crisis_and_Youth_Bulge_-_FINAL.pdf UNICEF 2012 When the Global Crisis and Youth Bulge Collide]</ref>

== Transmission mechanisms of the demographic dividend ==

Labor supply
 
The young sector of the population born during periods of high fertility are no longer dependent and can become workers, provided that effective policies have enabled them to be educated and trained.
Women relieved of child caring responsibilities are free to enter the labour market; they tend to be better educated than their older cohorts and are consequently more productive.<ref>[http://www.policyproject.com/pubs/generalreport/Demo_Div.pdf John Ross. 2004. Understanding the Demographic Dividend]</ref>

Savings
 
The transition away from a young age distribution tends to result in greater personal and national savings as working age adults have a tendency to earn more and the capacity to save more than the very young.
When persons born during periods of high fertility move into their 40s they have a greater ability to save as their own children are more independent and require less support.
Growth in personal savings serves as a partial resource for industrial investments that assist economic growth.<ref>[http://www.policyproject.com/pubs/generalreport/Demo_Div.pdf John Ross. 2004. Understanding the Demographic Dividend]</ref>

Human capital
 
Having fewer children enhances the health of women and enables their greater participation in the workforce. Increased financial and personal independence can also improve their general well-being.
Having fewer children reduces the pressure on parents to provide.
Less children means family income can be spent on better quality food for infants and young children as well as education resources and towards the prolonging of education for children to improve their life prospects.<ref>[http://www.policyproject.com/pubs/generalreport/Demo_Div.pdf John Ross. 2004. Understanding the Demographic Dividend]</ref>

== A second demographic dividend ==

The possibility of a second dividend is created as a population with a large proportion of older working aged people who face longer periods of retirement, accumulate assets to support themselves – that is unless they are assured that their needs are taken care of by their families or government. <ref>[http://www.relooney.info/00_New_916.pdf Ronald Lee and Andrew Mason What Is the Demographic Dividend]</ref>

These assets, whether invested domestically or abroad, contribute to increase national income so that in sum, whilst the first dividend produces a transitory bonus, the second dividend converts into greater assets and sustainable development. <ref>[http://www.relooney.info/00_New_916.pdf Ronald Lee and Andrew Mason What Is the Demographic Dividend]</ref>

== Managing the demographic dividends ==

The degree of benefit gained from the first dividend depends greatly on key features of the economic life cycle. The productivity of young people depends not just on the availability of jobs but on their capacity to take up employment opportunities. In this regard experiences, both positive and negative, during [[Early Childhood]], including those related to [[Early Childhood Care and Development]] and overall [[child well-being]] can have a strong influence on a country's labor supply, their human capital as well as the number of people dependent on government welfare services later on in life.

The timing of childbearing and maternity and paternity policies are also factors which influence individuals degree of participation in the labour force.

Productivity at older ages is influenced by factors of health and disability, tax incentives and disincentives and most importantly, the structure of pension programs and retirement policies.

== References ==

<references />

[[Category:Child_well-being]]

High-level Meeting on Happiness and Well-being - Media review

2012-04-03T10:52:45Z

Philippa: Created page with "*[http://opinion.financialpost.com/2012/04/02/terence-corcoran-are-you-happier-than-this-woman/ Terence Corcoran: Are you happier than this woman?] (Financial Post 03.04.2012) Wh..."

*[http://opinion.financialpost.com/2012/04/02/terence-corcoran-are-you-happier-than-this-woman/ Terence Corcoran: Are you happier than this woman?] (Financial Post 03.04.2012)
What started in Bhutan is coming to a government near you
 

*[http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=149882134 UN Discusses Creation Of Gross National Happiness] (NPR 03.04.2012)
Bhutan, the tiny Himalayan nation which tops Asia in the United Nations' First World Happiness Report, convened the meeting seeking to develop a new economic model based on principles of happiness and well being.

 
[http://dotearth.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/04/02/seeking-happiness-on-a-finite-and-human-shaped-planet/ Seeking Happiness on a Finite and Human-Shaped Planet] (New York Times 02.04.2012)‎
As Ryback explains, the meeting was approved in a UN resolution last year recognizing that “the pursuit of happiness is a fundamental human goal” and “the gross domestic product [GDP] does not adequately reflect the happiness and well-being of peopl.

 
[http://www.thetakeaway.org/2012/apr/02/achieving-global-happiness/ Is Happiness More Important than GDP?] (The Takeaway 02.04.2012)

Today the United Nations will discuss happiness.

 

*[http://www.deseretnews.com/article/765565433/UN-seeks-economic-model-of-happiness.html UN seeks economic model of happiness] (Deseret News 02.04.2012)
By Michael Astor AP AP Should happiness figure in a nation's bottom line?

 
*[http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2012%5C04%5C03%5Cstory_3-4-2012_pg14_7 Bhutan leader's pain at bringing global happiness] (Pakistan Daily Times 02.04.2012)
The feelgood factor has not yet reached the leader of Bhutan, the country that brought the world the National Happiness Index. But the Himalayan kingdom's campaign to put gross national happiness alongside gross domestic product is starting to sway ...

 
[http://www.rappler.com/thewrap/april-2,-2012-edition/un-assembly-raises-the-happiness-economics-to-new-heights UN assembly raises the happiness economics to new heights] (Rappler 01.04.2012)‎
Happiness research is now one of the hottest fields in development economics, thanks to Bhutan's Gross National Happiness Index (GNH), which replaces the traditional Gross National Product (GDP) as gauge of national progress.

 

*[http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/apr/02/bhutan-world-suicidal-path Bhutan rails against world's 'suicidal path'] (The Guardian 01.04.2012)
The faster we cut down forests and haul in fish stocks to extinction, the more GDP grows.

Event:Breaking the Link between Mental Health and Labour Exclusion in Europe

2012-04-03T10:39:00Z

Philippa:

{{AddEvent
|Date=16/05/2012
|City=Brussels
|Country=Belgium
|Summary=The Symposium will highlight the link between mental ill-health, social exclusion and exclusion from from the labour market
}}
== Overview ==
Mental ill-health accounts for almost 20% of illnesses in Europe and mental health problems affect one in four people at some point in their life. Nine of the ten countries with the highest rates of suicide in the world are in the European region. Mental illnesses are a major cause of death, disability and economic burden worldwide and the World Health Organisation predicts that by 2020, depression will be the second leading contributor to the global burden of disease across all ages. People suffering from mental health problems face various challenges related to unemployment and social exclusion as a result of their mental state.

Furthermore, mental health problems have become one of the leading causes of work absenteeism and early retirement across the European Region with a recent OECD report stating that one in five people of working age suffers from a mental disorder. The current economic recession and its effects on the job market are likely to add to the problems in employment and quality of life experienced by people with mental health problems and their families. The workplace plays a central role in the social inclusion of people with mental health problems.

This International Symposium will highlight the link between mental ill-health, social exclusion and exclusion from the labour market. Much is now known about what works in mental health promotion, prevention, care and treatment but the challenge now lies in implementing this knowledge. It is essential to raise awareness of mental health and well-being in order to prevent immense social and economic losses and provide recommendations for future policy actions.

== Link to official website ==
*[http://publicpolicyexchange.co.uk/events/CE16-PPE2.php Breaking the Link between Mental Health and Labour Exclusion in Europe]

April 2012 eBrief

2012-04-03T09:57:52Z

Angini:

{{EBrief
| date = April 2012
| highlight1 = Mark your calendar:
| highlight1desc = *[[ASCD]] will be hosting the [[:Event:Whole Child Virtual Conference|Whole Child Virtual Conference]] from May 3rd–11th. The theme for the conference is “Moving from Implementation to Sustainability to Culture,” and it will aim to provide a forum in which educators who implement the whole child approach to education can interact.

*From the 9th till the 25th of May Wikiprogress is hosting an '''online discussion''' in co-operation with the [[Global Progress Research Network]] and the [[Canadian Index of Wellbeing]]. The discussion will focus on applying new measures of progress to policy. 

'''Key contributions''' 
*Wikiprogress has produced a PDF generated from a series of articles on national well-being iniaitives.See the draft [http://www.wikiprogress.org/images//National_Initiatives_on_Measuring_Well-being.pdf National Initiatives on Measuring Well-Being] 
*The [[World Happiness Report]] released last month has updated a chapter on [http://www.ophi.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/Ura-et-al-Bhutan-Happiness-Chapter.pdf?cda6c1 GNH and GNH Index]. One of the major changes to the report relates to the categories of ‘Happiness’ that are now split into 4 groups. 

*The [[Institute for Advanced Behavioural Studies]] is happy to announce the launch of its new website (www.ifabs.eu). The non-profit institute has been set up by Gallup leaders to foster the exchange of ideas between researchers interested in behavioural sciences. We bring together and connect researchers who wish to investigate issues at the frontier of behavioural economics and solve related problems using new innovative means of analysis. 

*A [[Public Opinion - Measures of Progress|report]] (Italian) published this month by Istat and Cnel provides guidance for further work and confirms that the consensus on the importance of going "beyond GDP" is almost unanimous. 
*[http://www.wikiprogress.org/images//Ces814-2012_ac_en.doc Opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee on GDP and beyond] (download as a Word document) is a report on the involvement of civil society in choosing complementary indicators.
 

'''Wikigender'''
Monthly highlights from [http://www.wikigender.org/index.php/New_Home Wikigender] on gender equality and progress: 
*The updated 2012 Social Institutions and Gender Index, measuring discrimination against women for over 100 countries, will be launched in Washington on 10 May. [http://wikigender.org/index.php/Launch_of_the_2012_Social_Institutions_and_Gender_Index Find out more] about the launch and stay tuned on [http://www.genderindex.org www.genderindex.org] 

'''Wikichild'''
Monthly highlights from [[Wikichild]] on child well-being and progress:
*[[Progress in child well-being: Building on what works]] report argues for increased investment in ‘childsensitive’ development. 
*[[Child poverty and inequality: New perspectives]] is a compilation of essays from those leading the debate on the issue of child poverty and inequalities 
*[[Vietnam: Summary Report General Nutrition Survey 2009-2010]] report states that progress should be monitored for the purpose of developing early interventions and effective prevention strategies 
*[[Social and emotional wellbeing: development of a children's headline indicator]] a set of measures designed to focus policy and to help guide and evaluate policy development on issues central to children’s well-being. 

'''Latin America Network'''
Monthly highlights from the [http://wikiprogressal.blogspot.com.au/ Wikiprogress Latin America Network]
*[http://wikiprogressal.blogspot.com.au/2012/04/do-middle-classes-bring-institutional.html Do Middle Classes Bring Institutional Reforms?] 
*[http://wikiprogressal.blogspot.com.au/2012/04/social-policies-or-private-solidarity.html Social Policies or Private Solidarity?: The Equalizing Role of Migration and Remittances in El Salvador] 
*[http://wikiprogressal.blogspot.com.au/2012/04/redistribution-without-structural.html Redistribution without Structural Change in Ecuador: Rising and Falling Income Inequality in the 1990s and 2000s] 
*[http://wikiprogressal.blogspot.com.au/2012/04/macroeconomic-policies-growth.html Macroeconomic Policies, Growth, Employment, and Inequality in Latin America] 
*[http://wikiprogressal.blogspot.com.au/2012/04/changes-in-labour-market-conditions-and.html Changes in Labour Market Conditions and Policies: Their Impact on Wage Inequality during the Last Decade] 
| highlight2 =
| highlight2desc =
| communityPortalDesc =
*[[In the spotlight|Global Well-Being - who is suffering and who is thriving]]: Gallup has released findings from their Global Well-Being Survey, which show that an average of 13% of adults around the world rate their lives as "suffering". 
*[[Vietnam Urbanisation Review]] warns that the rapid urbanisation of Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City could make home ownership increasingly unattainable for residents and cause transportation gridlock. 
*Earlier this month, the United Nations hosted a High level meeting on [[In the spotlight|Happiness and Well Being Defining a New Economic Paradigm]] and put happiness on the global agenda. 
*[[The Global Parliamentary Report]] released by the UNDP focusing on the relationship between citizens and parliaments. 
*[[Africa's Pulse Vol. 5]] released by the World Bank, shows that African countries are continuing to see steady growth, but global uncertainties weigh on the region’s prospects. 
*[[High-level Meeting on Happiness and Well-being - Media review|Media Review]] on the selection of press coverage from the UN High-level Meeting on Happiness and Well-being. 
See more highlights in the '''[[Community Portal]]''' 

'''Blog highlights from the Prog Blog in April'''
*[http://theblogprogress.blogspot.com.au/2012/04/triple-h-health-harmony-and-happiness.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:+blogspot/theprogressblog+(prog+blog) Triple H – Health, Harmony and Happiness] 
*[http://theblogprogress.blogspot.com.au/2012/04/april-update-from-wellbeing-wales.html April update from Wellbeing Wales] 
*[http://theblogprogress.blogspot.com.au/2012/04/good-news-on-progress-in-child-well.html Good news on progress in child well-being and why it is necessary to invest further] 
*[http://theblogprogress.blogspot.com.au/2012/04/measuring-progress-on-child-well-being.html Measuring progress on child well-being in Africa: tracking government commitment] 
*[http://theblogprogress.blogspot.com.au/2012/04/child-malnutrition-need-for-sustainable.html Child malnutrition: the need for sustainable long-term solutions] 
*[http://theblogprogress.blogspot.com.au/2012/04/involvement-of-civil-society-in.html Involvement of civil society in choosing complementary indicators] 
*[http://theblogprogress.blogspot.com.au/2012/04/arab-knowledge-report-20102011-why.html The Arab Knowledge Report 2010/2011: Why focusing on Arab children and youth is necessary for the future of the region] 

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GPRNet meeting April

2012-04-02T12:39:21Z

Philippa:

{{Template:GPRNet}}

Welcome to the GPRNet online forum. The forum will be updated and used as the basis for monthly GPRNet teleconferences. See the agenda items below. Please use Disqus to comment on the items and/or to give a brief update on what you are working on and any relevant publications or events.

== Meeting minutes April ==
=== Update from the network ===
*[[Laszlo Pinter]] update:
1. Filomena chairing the annual ISQALS (November 1-4) conference in Venice. She has a session on Quality of Life and sustainability measurement. LP session on Quality of Life and future scenarios- goes beyond the indicators agenda.
What other GPRNet members could come? Perhaps this is the place to present the strategy paper? Interesting as this is a research orientated network.
Could we have a session at ISAQALS for a ‘year in review’ on all the wellbeing conferences in 2012? Including a review of major events like Rio+20.
Laszlo to raise this with Filomena
2. Rio+20 preparations- Laszlo work on sustainable development – unclear in regards to measurement- issues include new Sustainable Development goals and Sustainable Development governance.
Sustainable Development Goals – unclear how far this agenda will go in Rio as it has implications for … connection cut out.
 
*[[Angela Hariche]] update:
GPRNet/CIW seminar and online discussion: Seminar to be given by CIW via video Wikiprogress will set up an online discussion around this. Suggested dates for the 9th-16th of May – invitations will be sent out late April to GPRNet members for contribution.3 leading questions will be circulated and the results will go to Dehli via the CIW input at the conference.
OECD:
Measure Progress in Africa conference – lobby to develop a MP in Africa network run by the High Commissioner for Planning in the Moroccan government and UNECCA. Will try to identify new GPRNet members.
*[[Mike Salvaris]] update:
Project in Australia to go forward- Australian Council of Learned Academies
3 year project, how we measure progress, how to include the community and what this means for policy. Will involve all the universities working together- along with community groups. The GPRNet was included in this and will receive resources
Contact Fitoussi – could he attend a GPRNet meeting?

=== Applying Indicators to Policy ===
Angela raised potential new member: Alan AtKisson, author of [[Life Beyond Growth]]
Graham Henderson, Institute for Public Policy Research. Project on how indicators can be applied to policy. Report coming out at end of August. ODI is also doing a project on applying progress measures in developing countries. Next step- develop an article and collate this information on Wikiprogress.

=== Mike and Laszlo- update on strategy paper ===
Based on original paper- we need a clear analysis of what has happened in the last 2 or 3 years and to target our recommendations for research in a prioritised way. Should ask how do we apply these things? What is the practical implications of these indicators? Need for an event- but this event will need ideas- which is what this paper could be. What are the priorities and agreements? How should we move forward practically. LP comments on how this strategy paper will be different from the previous paper?

== Attendees ==
[[Susan Brutschy]], [[Filomena Maggino]], [[Laszlo Pinter]], [[Mike Salvaris]], [[Beat Huser]], [[Angela Hariche]] and [[Tani Shaw]].

=== GPRNet activities ===
Laszlo suggested managing all GPRNet activities in two broad categories, network strategy and research strategy. The first is how the GPRNet functions and the second is focusing on the purpose for which it is functioning.

Susan discussed the importance of aligning international work with local work and the value of striking the balance between the robustness with the quickness of good work.

=== GPRNet update from members ===
*Update from Laszlo - Laszlo has an EU grant to visit partners in Canada and will run a workshop in Canada in late August/early September on wellbeing which will be linking to scale. He is developing the workshop outline and the focus of the workshop will be primarily Canadian. Laszlo is supervising PhD students who are preparing two papers including practical based metrics to analyze city infrastructure (geospatial element) and new metrics for spatial structure.

*Mike Salvaris facilitated discussion on goals for 2012. Topics included network management - finance and capacity, network secretariat and governance. Need to outline substantive work of research agenda, top 3 objectives in the next 6 months, substantive work (suggestion Rio +20) and basic resourcing.

*Update from Angela. OECD working on Measuring Progress Africa, Europe and Delhi.

== Agenda April Meeting ==

==== GPRNet news ====
Please be prepared to give a brief overview of what you have been working on. Any relevant events, documents and/or links should be posted to this article.

== Next meeting ==
Wednesday 4th April: 9:00am CET (Paris), 5:00pm EDT (Sydney) 
'''Host''': [[Tani Shaw]]

== Forum comments ==
If you are unable to attend the next GPRNet teleconference, please leave your comments below on the agenda items and/or anything you would like to share with the network.

== Online Discussion ==

{{#widget:DISQUS
|id=wikiprogress
|uniqid={{FULLPAGENAMEE}}
|url={{fullurl:{{PAGENAME}}}}
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Progress in the news - March 2012

2012-04-01T08:37:01Z

Philippa: /* March media review */

== March media review ==

*[http://blogs.ft.com/beyond-brics/2012/03/31/can-ems-forsake-growth-for-happiness/#axzz1qm9oe2DS Can EMs forsake growth for happiness?] (Financial Times 30.03.2012)

With the anaemic levels of GDP growth in developed countries, focusing on other indicators like happiness might look like a not-so-subtle way of trying to change the music.

 

*[http://www.guardian.co.uk/sustainable-business/bhutan-advise-united-nations-happiness?newsfeed=true Bhutan leads the world to a new economy of happiness] (Guardian 29.03.2012)

Next week Bhutan will host host a high level conference at the United Nations in New York with the hope of placing happiness, rather than growth, at the heart of the economy

 

*[http://www.ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=107204 Urgent Need for "New Deal" in Equality and Sustainability] (IPS 26.03.2012)

The pressing need for a global "new deal" to foster sustainable development and reduce inequalities was the conclusion of the 2012 Global Human Development Forum, a new initiative by the United Nations, held in Istanbul from Mar. 22-23.

 

*[http://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2012/03/gray-nation-the-very-real-economic-dangers-of-an-aging-america/254937/ Gray Nation: The Very Real Economic Dangers of an Aging America‎] (The Atlantic 26.03.2012)

Two economists envision a scary -- and scarily realistic -- future where the working population expands slower and slower, and jobless recoveries are the only recoveries we know

 

*[http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO1203/S00537/global-human-development-forum-adopts-istanbul-declaration.htm Global Human Development Forum Adopts 'Istanbul Declaration'‎] (Scoop.co.nz 25.03.2012)

Global Human Development Forum Adopts ‘Istanbul Declaration’ Urging Bold Action at UN ‘Rio+20’ Conference this June

 

*[http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/03/25/going-to-church-mood-positive-emotions-well-being_n_1375707.html Going To Church Linked With Better Mood, Study Finds]‎ (Huffington Post 25.03.2012)

Who are the happiest people? According to a new report from Gallup, it's those who regularly go to a place of worship, whether it be a church, mosque or synagogue.

 

*[http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=41628&Cr=sustainable+development&Cr1= Looking to Rio+20, world must act on sustainable development, says UN forum] (UN News Room 23.03.2012)

The international community must “reset the global development agenda” and strengthen its commitment to sustainable development, a United Nations-backed conference in Istanbul heard today.

 

*[http://www.china.org.cn/top10/2012-03/22/content_24940825.htm Top 10 provincial regions with highest GDP quality] (China 22.03.2012)

Quite a few of the 10 provincial regions that did most in improving residents' average income in 2011 are from China's relatively backward western regions, which included Guizhou, Yunnan and Chongqing, according to the latest 2011 Gross Domestic Product quality rankings recently published by the Beijing-based China Economy Research Institute, a think-tank of China Economic Weekly under People's Daily News Group.

 

*[http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/artikel.php?ID=233282 Vice President promises partnership with NGOS to achieve MDGs‎] (GhanaWeb 21.03.2012)

Vice President John Dramani Mahama on Tuesday stated that the government could only achieve most of the Millennium Development Goals.

 

*[http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/politics/human-cost-of-inaction-incalculable-20120320-1vhrv.html Human cost of inaction incalculable‎] (Sydney Morning Herald 21.03.2012)

In its report Environmental Outlook to 2050, it projects existing socio-economic ... undermine the growth and human development of future generations.

 

*[http://www.wndu.com/hometop/headlines/Gallup_poll_ranks_Michiana_as_7th_least_satisfied_metro_area_nationwide_143543956.html Gallup poll ranks Michiana as seventh least satisfied metro area] (WNDU-TV 21.03.2012)

And the financial turmoil has impacted personal health as well

 

*[http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/opinion/article3016930.ece?homepage=true Ethos of our economy‎] (Hindu Business Line 21.03.2012)

Regardless of our attaining a seven per cent GDP growth rate in the ... something which cannot make anyone with the nation's well-being in mind, happy.

 

*[http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=41574&Cr=Sustainable+Development&Cr1= UN experts call for including human rights standards in development goals] (UN News Centre 19.03.2012)

A group of independent United Nations experts today urged States to include universally agreed international human rights norms and standards, as well as accountability mechanisms, in the goals that will emerge from a UN sustainable development forum in June.

 

*[http://allafrica.com/stories/201203190906.html Rio+20 African Delegates Meet in New York to Discuss 'One Voice for Africa'] (AllAfrica 19.03.2012)

African negotiators to the forthcoming Rio+20 conference on sustainable development, to be held in June, gathered in New York last week for a training session on negotiation techniques. The African Development Bank (AfDB) supports six of the negotiators from its African member states.

 

*[http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/politics/life-the-big-questions-and-the-search-for-happiness-20120315-1v89l.html Life, the big questions and the search for happiness] (Sydney Morning Herald 16.03.2012)

'How are you?'' We must each pose the question a dozen times a day, but how often are we really interested in the reply?

 

*[http://www.chinadialogue.net/article/show/single/en/4800 Revisiting our limits] (China Dialogue 12.03.2012)

It’s 40 years since the publication of The Limits to Growth. In Europe and in China, writes Patrick Schroeder, a new wave of thinkers and decision-makers are beginning to revisit its core message.

 

*[http://www.sas.com/news/preleases/un-sma.html Can a country's online "mood" predict unemployment spikes?] (SAS News 12.03.2012)

SAS, UN analyze social media to find leading, lagging indicators of surges in unemployment

 

*[http://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/science-news/9137481/Getting-older-makes-us-happier-because-we-give-up-on-our-dreams.html Getting older makes us happier, because we give up on our dreams] (The telegraph 12.03.2012)

Contrary to popular beliefs about grumpy old men and women, people grow happier as they get older, research shows.

 

*[http://www.undp.org/content/undp/en/home/ourperspective/ourperspectivearticles/2012/03/12/remembering-and-learning-from-fukushima-kamal-kishore.html Remembering and learning from Fukushima] (UNDP 12.03.2012)

One year ago, a major earthquake struck off Japan's northeastern coast, causing a devastating tsunami.

 

*[http://one.org/blog/2012/03/12/two-major-mdg-targets-achieved/ Two major MDG targets achieved] (One 12.03.2012)

It’s been a good few days for Millennium Development Goals. Not one but two targets were reported as met last week, which means that we have reason to celebrate.

 

*[http://www.npr.org/blogs/pictureshow/2012/03/07/148170201/before-and-after-japans-wreckage-and-recovery?sc=fb&cc=fp One Year Later: Japan's Wreckage And Recovery] (NPR 12.03.2012)

Japan's landscape was a surreal sight to behold one year ago: Flipped cars, ships on top of buildings, completely dismantled homes. As victims of the destruction walked through wreckage in disbelief, or paddled down flooded streets in boats, the rest of the world processed the imagery from afar.

 

*[http://www.economist.com/blogs/graphicdetail/2012/03/daily-chart-8?fsrc=scn/fb/wl/dc/wherethelivingiseasier Where the living is easier] (The Economist 12.03.2012)

A new index ranks the competitiveness of global cities

 

*[http://www.afriquejet.com/economy-global-partnership-2012031034839.html Global partnership to checkmate extreme poverty] (Afrique en Ligne 12.03.2012)

Ban calls for more global partnership to checkmate extreme poverty. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Friday stressed that focused financing and partnerships for development have resulted in great strides in the global efforts to combat extreme poverty and facilitate social development, noting that the number of impoverished people is declining across the world.

 

*[http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/fl20120311rp.html Japan's disasters must prompt a radical rethink of citizens' quality of life] (Japan Times 11.03.2012)

It's a long time now since my first visit to Uluru, the stupendous sandstone formation in Australia's Red Center that European settlers called Ayers Rock, but which has now officially reverted to the name by which it was always known to the Pitjantjatjara Aboriginal people.

 

*[http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/11/opinion/sunday/friedman-pass-the-books-hold-the-oil.html?_r=1&ref=opinion Pass the Books. Hold the Oil.] (New York Times 10.03.2012)

A team from the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, or O.E.C.D., has just come out with a fascinating little study mapping the correlation between performance on the Program for International Student Assessment, or PISA, exam — which every two years tests math, science and reading comprehension skills of 15-year-olds in 65 countries — and the total earnings on natural resources as a percentage of G.D.P. for each participating country.

 

*[http://www.international.to/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=5539:brazilian-women-are-the-worlds-happiest&catid=71:press-releases&Itemid=122 Brazilian Women Are the World's Happiest‎] (International News Magazine 09.03.2012)
Money may not buy happiness - but it has helped make women in Brazil become the happiest, most optimistic women in the world, according to a study.

 

*[http://www.ecollegetimes.com/student-life/nobel-winning-economist-says-wealth-gap-is-bad-for-growth-1.2711326 Nobel-winning economist says wealth gap is bad for growth‎] (College Times 05.03.2012)

Joseph Stiglitz, a Nobel Prize-winning economist, offered a sobering outlook this week on Europe's debt crisis, predicting the euro in its current form was unlikely to survive.

 

*[http://www.newsmax.com/US/Gallup-well-being-index/2012/03/05/id/431416 Gallup: America's Unhappy Index Climbs‎] (News Max 05.03.2012)

Happiness is an elusive thing for many Americans, according to a Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index that found Hawaii to be the best off state in the country, and West Virginia, the worst, when it comes to achieving a happy lifestyle.

 

*[http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/it%5Cs-time-to-focushuman-capital/466870/ Its time to focus on human capital‎] (Business Standard 05.03.2012)

There was a Sputnik moment in the world of global education in December 2010.

 

*[http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/03/120305081412.htm Personality Change Key to Improving Wellbeing] (ScienceDaily 05.03.2012)

People's personalities can change considerably over time, say scientists, suggesting that leopards really can change their spots.

 

*[http://www.bangkokpost.com/breakingnews/282824/thais-getting-more-unhappier Thais growing more unhappy] (Bangkok Post 05.03.2012)

Thailand’s gross domestic happiness index for February has dropped over the higher cost of living, Abac Poll Research Centre says.

 

*[http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/e272f780-6224-11e1-872e-00144feabdc0.html#axzz1oHzGYzyN Wellbeing report inspired ONS work‎] (Financial Times 28.02.2012)

A report commissioned by Nicolas Sarkozy, the French president, from Joseph Stiglitz and Amartya Sen, the Nobel laureate economists, was the inspiration for the Office for National Statistics’ work on measuring national well-being,

 

*[http://www.economist.com/blogs/blighty/2012/02/national-well-being-survey?fsrc=gn_ep National well-being survey] (The Economist 28.02.2012)

Counting one's blessings

 

*[http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-17192780 Black people 'least satisfied of UK population'] (BBC 28.02.2012)

People with children reported feeling their lives were more worthwhile than those without offspring

 

*[http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/q-how-happy-is-britain-a-76-out-of-10-7462653.html Q: How happy is Britain? A: 7.6 out of 10‎] (The Independent 28.02.2012)

National survey reveals that those living in Northern Ireland are the most content

 

*[http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2012-02-28/news/31107886_1_economic-growth-hdi-countries Democracy correlated with economic growth?‎] (Economic Times 28.02.2012)

With elections on in many parts of India, much is being said about the importance of democracy and how it brings growth and prosperity.

 

*[http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/pacbeat/stories/201202/s3441166.htm UN report says poor children worst off in cities] (ABC 28.02.2012)

A United Nations' report has revealed that life in the city is often tough for children.

 

*[http://www.chinapost.com.tw/business/asia-china/2012/02/28/332979/Experts-warn.htm Experts warn of dangers from Beijing's GDP growth] (China Post 28.02.2012)

The Gross Domestic Product per capita of Beijing residents reached 80,394 yuan, US$12,447, in 2011, closing the gap with more developed countries.

 

*[http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/usa/china/2012-02/27/content_14705521.htm Beijingers hope for higher pay as GDP rises] (China Daily 27.02.2012)

Mao Lianying makes 15,000 yuan a month pre-tax as a Beijing department store accounting manager, but doesn't consider herself a high wage earner.

 

*[http://www.gallup.com/poll/152912/Hawaii-No-Wellbeing-West-Virginia-Stuck-Last.aspx Hawaii Still No. 1 in Wellbeing, West Virginia Stuck in Last] (Gallup 27.02.2012)

Western states still boast the best wellbeing, Southern states the worst

 

*[http://www.epha.org/a/5016 EPHA Report on Beyond GDP] (EPHA 27.02.2012)

In the report, EPHA highlights the growing body of evidence that GDP alone cannot measure all aspects of human development, does not account for social costs.

 

*[http://www.independent.com.mt/news.asp?newsitemid=140124 Sustainable development indicators should be part of wealth measurement mechanism] (Malta Independent 26.02.2012)

Nobel Prize winner Joseph Stiglitz suggested that Gross Domestic Product – the method with which we measure national wealth – is an inadequate measure and recommended new indicators to assess sustainability in ways that complement traditional measures of growth

 

*[http://www.bworldonline.com/content.php?section=9&title=Material-anxiety&id=47387 Material anxiety‎] (BusinessWorld Online Edition 26.02.2012)

Over the past five decades, the comparative charts of happiness vis-a-vis a country's per capita GDP show a staggering conclusion.

 

*[http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2012/02/26/can-we-learn-a-lesson-from-a-tiny-fishing-nation-i.aspx Can We Learn a Lesson From a Tiny Fishing Nation in the Middle of the Ocean?]
(Motley Fool 26.02.2012)

In a withering 2009 Vanity Fair profile of the situation in Iceland, Michael Lewis described a bleak scene...

 

*[http://thecostaricanews.com/being-happy-social-and-natural-factors-are-more-important-than-money-especially-in-costa-rica/10233 Being Happy: Social and Natural Factors Are More Important Than Money] (The Costa Rica News 26.02.2012)
And which nation's people are happiest?

*[http://allafrica.com/stories/201202220243.html Nigeria: Rich Nation, Poor People] (All Africa 22.02.2012)

It is easy to misunderstand my position on the grim report of the National Bureau of Statistics on the deteriorating standards of living in Nigeria. I must therefore state it clearly that there is indeed unjustified abject poverty in Nigeria.

 

*[http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/3/12/34882/Business/Economy/UNDP-report-calls-for-economic-reform-in-postSprin.aspx UNDP report calls for economic reform in post-Spring Arab world] (Ahram 19.02.2012)

If region's economic and social woes aren't competently dealt with, desired democratic transition in Arab world will fail, warns new report by UN Development Programme (UNDP)

 

*[http://www.nagalandpost.com/channelnews/Regional/RegionalNews.aspx?news=TkVXUzEwMDAxMzkxNw%3D%3D-lZNKB6lTvwA%3D Meghalaya to replicate Bhutan’s GNP model] (Nagaland Post 19.02.2012)

Meghalaya will replicate Bhutan’s model of Gross National Happiness as an index of the state’s well- being, Chief Minister Mukul Sangma said.
 

*[http://www.businessgreen.com/bg/news/2153669/environmental-factors-included-gdp-scientists Environmental factors must be included in GDP, say scientists] (Business Green 20.02.2012)

Governments warned failing to account for externalities will make climate change harder to manage
 

*[http://www.unescap.org/unis/press/2012/feb/g06.asp Asia-Pacific makes big gains against poverty, but slow to reduce hunger, child and maternal deaths] (UNESCAP / UNDP 20.02.2012)

The Asia-Pacific region has made big gains in reducing poverty and is moving fast towards other development goals, but still has high levels of hunger as well as child and maternal mortality, said a new report released here today.
 

*[http://tvnz.co.nz/business-news/entrepreneur-can-force-good-4731333 Entrepreneur- Business can be a force for good‎] (TVNZ 20.02.2012)
One speaker at a Queenstown entrepreneur conference this week will be talking about how business needs to be a force for good.
 

*[http://www.dawn.com/2012/02/18/happiness-first.html Happiness first] (DAWN 18.02.2012)

Money makes the world go round. But as the euro debt crisis grinds on and anti-austerity protests gain momentum across the continent,

 

*[http://www.montrealgazette.com/business/Forget+about+real+question+happy/6164798/story.html Forget about GDP. The real question is: Are we happy?‎] (Montreal Gazette 17.02.2012)

If GDP data are hopeless at sorting out what is important about a traffic jam, they are even less capable of measuring happiness.

 

*[http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/guwahati/Bhutan-parliamentarians-begin-study-tour-of-Arunachal/articleshow/11917393.cms Bhutan parliamentarians begin study tour of Arunachal‎] (Times of India 17.02.2012)

Gross National Happiness or happiness interwoven with balanced economic development was a concept introduced by Bhutan's King in 1972, as an alternative to Gross Domestic Product, said Bhutan's National Assembly member Dupthob at the start of a four-day visit to Arunachal Pradesh as the leader of a five-member team.

 

*[http://news.in.msn.com/gallery/photoviewer.aspx?cp-documentid=5849643#image=1 Happiest places on Earth: Pics] (MSN India 16.02.2012)

Living in the midst of floods, wars and earthquakes, you wonder if the world is a happy place to live in. But it seems there are happy places throughout the world. Take a look. 

*[http://www.asianage.com/columnists/pursuit-happiness-982 In Pursuit of Happiness] (Asian Age 16.02.2012)

The aspirational Indian argues that happiness is now within the reach of each one of us... provided we are not tight-fisted and give in to the urge to splurge

 

*[http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/editorial/article2893817.ece Sen, the moral universalist] (The Hindu 15.02.2012)

The United States National Medal of Arts and Humanities awarded Monday to Nobel Laureate Amartya Sen — the first non-American to be conferred the rare honour — speaks to the universalism of his contributions in economics and philosophy over the past five decades

 

*[http://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2012/02/our-aging-prison-population-should-criminals-die-free/252962/ Our Aging Prison Population: Should Criminals Die Free?] (The Atlantic 15.02.2012)

As the number of senior citizens locked behind bars skyrockets, cash-strapped states are unable to foot the growing health care bills.

 

*[http://economix.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/02/15/college-majors-that-put-women-on-equal-footing-with-men/ College Majors That Put Women on Equal Footing With Men] (New York Times 15.02.2012)

The typical full-time female worker still earns about 81 cents for every dollar that her male counterpart earns.

 
*[http://english.cri.cn/6909/2012/02/14/2021s680956.htm Guangdong Releases Happiness Index Report] (China Radio International 14.02.2012)

Authorities in south China's Guangdong province have released the region's first official happiness index report, with the city of Guangzhou topping the list, followed by Dongguan and Zhuhai, the New Express Daily reports. 

*[http://www.economist.com/blogs/graphicdetail/2012/02/daily-chart-7 The cost of living across the globe] (The Economist 13.02.2012)

Zurich has become the world’s most expensive city to live in, according to the latest Worldwide Cost of Living Survey from the Economist Intelligence Unit, our sister company.

 

*[http://allafrica.com/stories/201202131532.html Zambia: Community Vital in Attaining MDGs - Katema] (AllAfrica 13.02.2012)

Community participation will be the key to the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), Community Development, Mother and Child Health Minister Joseph Katema has said. 

*[http://www.firstpost.com/world/amartya-sen-to-receive-us-humanities-medal-from-obama-211236.html Amartya Sen to receive US Humanities Medal from Obama] (FirstPost 13.02.2012)

US president Barack Obama on Monday will award the National Medals of Arts and Humanities to Indian economist Amartya Sen who won his Nobel Prize for Economics in 1998 for his studies of the roots of poverty. 

*[http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/editorials/archives/2012/02/12/2003525248 High hopes for the happiness index] (The Taipei Times 12.02.2012)

The announcement by President Ma Ying-jeou’s (馬英九) administration last week that it would create a national happiness index and make Taiwanese wealthier marks an important task for the Cabinet led by Premier Sean Chen (陳冲).

 

*[http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2095506/UN-chief-Ban-Ki-moon-calls-global-economic-sustainability-changes-report-reveals-need-50-food-2030.html We need to rethink the idea of national wealth and work for a sustainable future together, says UN Secretary-General] (Mail 12.02.2012)

Ban Ki-moon warns Earth will run out of sustainable resources
 

*[http://www.thenewstribune.com/2012/02/12/2022874/the-happiness-index-measuring.html The happiness index- Measuring what matters may be a better way to gauge economic well-being] (The News Tribune 12.02.2012)
With bated breath, the world’s markets recently waited for the announcement of the U.S. fourth-quarter gross domestic product growth rate – a potential bellwether for the global economy. It turned out to be 2.8 percent.
 

*[http://www.gastongazette.com/articles/most-67296-independence-government.html Government can't make us happy‎] (Gaston Gazette 12.02.2012)
In the Declaration of Independence, Thomas Jefferson called the pursuit of happiness an unalienable right.
 

*[http://www.plenglish.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=476960&Itemid=1 UNDP- World Human Development to Drop by 2050] (Prensa Latina 11.02.2012)
The current environmental scenarios suggest that by 2050 human development index will have a considerable reduction, said Barbara Pesce-Monteiro, permanent representative in Cuba of the UN Program for Development.

 

*[http://www.gallup.com/poll/152588/Underemployment-Higher-Five-States-2011.aspx Underemployment 21% or Higher in Five States in 2011] (Gallup 10.02.2012)
Lowest underemployment rates were in North and South Dakota
 

*[http://www.kuenselonline.com/2011/?p=26884 Measuring Happiness‎] (Kuensel 10.02.2012)
The country will begin quantifying GNH by measuring what GDP leaves out, such as its natural wealth including human, social and culture ones like GDP does ...
 

*[http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/02/08/us-germany-jobs-idUSTRE8170P120120208 The dark side of Germany's jobs miracle] (Reuters 09.02.2012) 
Anja has been scrubbing floors and washing dishes for two euros an hour over the past six years. She is bewildered when she sees newspapers hailing Germany's "job miracle."
 

*[http://www.economist.com/debate/days/view/806 Social Networking debate] (The Economist debates 08.02.2012) 
This house believes that society benefits when we share personal information online.
 

*[http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2012/feb/08/government-cannot-make-you-happy Despite its promises, this government can't make you happy. In times of austerity, you are on your own] (The Guardian 08.02.2012)

The happiness agenda is just a way of making huge social problems seem personal. 

*[http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2012/02/08/what-really-makes-people-happy/ What really makes people happy?] (Fox News 08.02.2012)

In the Declaration of Independence, Thomas Jefferson called the pursuit of happiness an unalienable right. This was a radical idea. For most of history, most people didn’t think much about pursuing happiness. They were too busy just trying to survive. 

Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2012/02/08/what-really-makes-people-happy/#ixzz1ls7N9Ilk
*[http://www.ted.com/conversations/8910/the_city_2_0_evolved_not_ma.html The City 2.0 -- Evolved -Not Made- By Ecological Humans] (TED Conversations 08.02.2012) 

*[http://www.isn.ethz.ch/isn/Current-Affairs/Security-Watch-Archive/Detail/?lng=en&id=136581 Whose Development Is It Anyway? From Economic to Human and Sustainable Development]‎ (ISN 07.02.2012)
The United Nations' eight Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) further expand the concept of human development 

*[http://www.gallup.com/poll/152501/Engaged-Workers-Immune-Stress-Long-Commutes.aspx Engaged Workers Immune to Stress From Long Commutes] (Gallup 07.02.2012)
For disengaged workers, long commutes linked to higher stress levels. 

*[http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-02-07/china-plans-unified-survey-of-incomes-to-gauge-wealth-gap-daily-reports.html China Plans Unified Survey to Gauge Wealth Gap] (Bloomberg 07.02.2012)

China will carry out a comprehensive survey of urban and rural salaries that may help better gauge its income gap, the China Daily reported today, citing Xie Hongguang, a deputy head of the National Bureau of Statistics. 

*[http://www.taiwantoday.tw/ct.asp?xItem=185724&ctNode=445 Taiwan to introduce well-being, happiness index] (Taiwan Today 07.02.2012)

Taiwan will establish an index of well-being and release the results as early as next year, according to the Cabinet-level Directorate-General of Budget, Accounting and Statistics Feb 6. 

*[http://www.isn.ethz.ch/isn/Current-Affairs/Security-Watch-Archive/Detail/?lng=en&id=136581 Whose Development Is It Anyway? From Economic to Human and Sustainable Development] (ISN 06.02.2012)
Statistical data on economic and social development suggests that humanity has made considerable progress in these areas over the last 50 years. 

*[http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2012/feb/06/rio-20-gdp-connie-hedegaard?newsfeed=true Use Rio+20 to overhaul idea of growth, urges EU climate chief] (Guardian 05.01.2012)

Connie Hedegaard says GDP model of growth causes overconsumption, drives up commodity prices and ignores the environment.
 

*[http://www.eeo.com.cn/ens/2012/0206/220337.shtml China Needs the Courage to Slow Down‎] (The Economic Observer 06.02.2012)
The miracle of the Chinese economy is based on the premise that speed over rides and dilutes everything else. However, it's now the time now for us to step back from the frenetic pace of "Beijing Time" and slow down, for the sake of both our dignity and happiness.
 

*[http://www.theglobalmail.org/feature/economic-hypochondria-down-under/6/ Economic Hypochondria Down Under] (The Global Mail 06.02.2012)
To the newly arrived or recently returned, the reality of contemporary economic Australia is startling. So is the mythology. 

*[http://www.isn.ethz.ch/isn/Current-Affairs/Security-Watch-Archive/Detail/?lng=en&id=136581 Whose Development is it Anyway? From Economic to Human and Sustainable Development] (International Relations and Security Network 06.02.2012) 

*[http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2012/feb/06/rio-20-gdp-connie-hedegaard?newsfeed=true Use Rio+20 to overhaul idea of growth, urges EU climate chief] (Guardian 06.02.2012)
Connie Hedegaard says GDP model of growth causes overconsumption, drives up commodity prices and ignores the environment. 

*[http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/opinion/comments-analysis/budget-2012-social-schemes-and-indias-flawed-development-plans/articleshow/11754864.cms Social schemes and India’s flawed development plans] (The Economic Times 06.02.2012)

India's excellent economic growth has had little impact on its social indicators, and India is likely to miss achieving the Millennium Development Goals in respect of poverty reduction, health, nutrition, sanitation and gender. 

*[http://www.dawn.com/2012/02/05/un-%E2%80%98needs-greater-integration-between-science-and-policy%E2%80%99.html UN 'needs greater integration between science and policy'‎] (Dawn 06.02.2012)

A report by a top-level political panel has endorsed calls for greater integration of science into all levels of policymaking on sustainable development. 

*[http://www.indiaeducationdiary.in/showEE.asp?newsid=11733 Information Revolution to play a key role in Sustainable Development- Professor Jeffery D Sachs] (Education Diary 06.02.2012)

Prof. Sachs began his address by emphasizing the role that technology and technological change can play in sustainable development and said it is the need of the hour to overcome deep structural challenges that limit diffusion of technology for sustainable development. He presented the challenges and the need for information revolution for sustainable development. 

*[http://www.gallup.com/poll/152375/suffering-haiti-lowest-2006.aspx "Suffering" in Haiti lowest since 2006] (Gallup 03.02.2012)

Haitians rate their lives better now than they did before the earthquake ravaged their country two years ago. 

*[http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2095159/Migrants-seeking-life-Britain-asked-Can-make-country-better.html? Migrants seeking a life in Britain will be asked: Can you make the country better?] (Mail online 03.02.2012)

Migrants seeking permission to enter Britain must prove they will ‘add to the quality of life’ and not become ‘dependent’ on state support, a minister said today. 

*[http://www.koreaittimes.com/story/19650/welfare-well-being Welfare is Well Being?] (Korea IT Times 03.02.2012)

As election season follows, people frequent a talk of “welfare” and “free”. Lately, once hotly debated issue “free school meals“ finally elected a new Seoul major. And the newly elected leader of the Democratic Party Han Myeong-sook expressed her strong will to extend social welfare by taking over the political spirit of former president Roh Moo-hyun’s era.

 

*[http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=41105&Cr=social&Cr1=development UN Commission on Social Development kicks off with focus on poverty and youth] (UN News Centre 02.02.2012)

Poverty eradication, youth unemployment and socially inclusive policies will be the main focus of the 50th session of the United Nations Commission for Social Development, which kicked off today at UN Headquarters in New York. 

*[http://www.project-syndicate.org/commentary/sachs186/English Sustainable Humanity] (Project Syndicate 01.02.2012)

Sustainable development means achieving economic growth that is widely shared and that protects the earth’s vital resources. 

*[http://m.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/economy/economy-lab/daily-mix/a-data-wonks-dream-statscan-to-drop-pay-wall/article2256454/?service=mobile A data wonk's dream: Statscan to drop paywall] (The Globe and Mail 01.02.2012)

If Canada is to morph into a knowledge-based economy, its citizens need better access to reliable, unbiased information. 

*[http://www.timesofassam.com/headlines/assam-moves-ahead-in-human-development-with-third-rank/ Assam moves ahead in Human Development with Third Rank‎] (Times of Assam 01.02.2012)

When it comes to progress in Human Development Index, Assam has done far better in the last decade than most major states in India, achieving 32.1 per cent progress for the period 1999-2008, as reported in India Human Development Report 2011.

 

*[http://www.todayonline.com/Singapore/EDC120201-0000051/A-Singaporean-happiness-index A Singaporean happiness index?‎] (Today Online 01.02.2012)

The Republic should devise its own index that measures the quality of life, as many of such indices available are culturally specific and may not adequately capture the happiness and well-being of Singaporeans, according to Professor Lily Kong, a vice-president at the National University of Singapore.

 

*[http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/lead/article2845473.ece?homepage=true An action plan for Sri Lanka‎] (The Hindu 31.01.2012)

The outline of a sustainable development system to empower villagers.

 

*[http://www.gallup.com/poll/152384/Northern-Ireland-Boasts-Best-Wellbeing.aspx Northern Ireland Boasts Best Wellbeing in UK] (Gallup 31.01.2012)

Residents of Northern Ireland have higher overall wellbeing than those in England, Scotland, or Wales, according to Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index data from 2011. Wales had the lowest overall wellbeing score.

 

*[http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-01-31/developmental-issues/31008994_1_sustainable-development-rich-countries-climate-talks India opposes UN panel’s ‘back door’ for green caps] (Times of India 31.01.2012)

A high-profile panel of the United Nation Secretary General (UNSG) on Global Sustainability has recommended that the world adopt sustainable development targets. The move has been opposed by India and several other developing countries as creating a backdoor for caps on emissions and green targets, while breaching the firewall between developing and rich countries that is enshrined in the Rio declaration and the UN convention on climate change.

 

*[http://www.ecoseed.org/business/low-carbon-biz/article/133-low-carbon-biz/12385-%E2%80%98world-still-not-on-sustainable-path%E2%80%99-%E2%80%93-high-level-u-n-panel "World still not on sustainable path"- high-level UN panel] (Ecoseed 31.01.2012)

A high-level United Nations panel on global sustainability formed by Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon, in its final report said "the world is still not on the path of sustainable development," even though real progress has been made on some issues. 

*[http://english.hani.co.kr/arti/english_edition/e_national/516799.html More residents leaving greater Seoul for the provinces] (The Hankyoreh 31.01.2012)

Seoul’s population has seen a landmark reversal with the flow of residents leaving the city exceeding the influx of new citizens for the first time in 40 years. Experts are predicting that a slow exodus from the capital region may continue. 

*[http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/opinion/oped/bs-ed-measuring-progress-20120130,0,7700054.story A better way of measuring progress in Maryland] (The Baltimore Sun 30.01.2012)

'Genuine Progress Indicator' takes more factors into account than GDP

 

*[http://www.guardian.co.uk/global-development/2012/jan/30/planet-people-sustainable-development-report Put planet and its people at the core of sustainable development, urges report] (The Guardian 30.01.2012)

UN panel calls for sustainable development indicators that factor in poverty, inequality, science and gender equality

 

*[http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/spirituality/new-age-insight/Get-ready-for-transition/articleshow/11683704.cms Get ready for Transition] (The Times of India 30.01.2012)

The stage is set for a different kind of evolution, so surrender, says guest editor Deepak Chopra

 

*[http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/01/30/us-un-development-idUSTRE80T10520120130 World lacks enough food, fuel as population soars: U.N] (Reuters 30.01.2012)

The world is running out of time to make sure there is enough food, water and energy to meet the needs of a rapidly growing population and to avoid sending up to 3 billion people into poverty, a U.N. report warned on Monday.

 

*[http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=41073&Cr=African+Union&Cr1= Ban urges African countries to entrench civil, political and economic rights] (UN News 30.01.2012)

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today urged African countries to entrench civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights to boost stability and development in the continent.

 

*[http://www.gulf-times.com/site/topics/article.asp?cu_no=2&item_no=483543&version=1&template_id=36&parent_id=16 Better education, healthy lifestyle urged for youth‎] (Gulf Times 29.01.2012)

Qatar’s third National Human Development Report, addressing key issues affecting Qatari youth, was launched on Thursday by the General Secretariat for Development Planning.

 

*[http://www.businessweek.com/news/2012-01-30/african-union-urges-more-intra-regional-trade-to-aid-growth.html African Union Urges More Intra-Regional Trade to Aid Growth‎] (BusinessWeek 29.01.2012)

African countries are making “slow and generally insufficient” progress toward meeting the United Nations Millennium Development goals.
 

*[http://www.demos.org/publication/does-growth-equal-progress-myth-gdp Does Growth Equal Progress? The Myth of GDP] (Demos report release 26.01.2012)

GDP measures economic growth, but is it an accurate measure of progress?

 

*[http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/0f927d20-4769-11e1-b847-00144feabdc0.html#axzz1kuxjLqFp Diogenes was right to value more than happiness] (Financial Times 26.01.2012)

The Greek philosopher Diogenes is said to have lived in a tub. But far from being dismissed as a crank, he was the only thinker whom Alexander the Great went to see – the others had to come to him.

 

*[http://www.publicservice.co.uk/feature_story.asp?id=18695 Government has a vital role in creating a happier society] (Public Service 26.01.2012)

In his response to the Institute of Economic Affairs' report on wellbeing and the role of government, Dr Mark Williamson, director of Action for Happiness, said it was clear that some policy decisions that were good for growth were often bad for wellbeing.

 

*[http://www.huffingtonpost.com/lisa-curtis/millennials-success_b_1225046.html Happiness Is the New Success: Why Millennials Are Reprioritizing‎] (Huffington Post 25.01.2012)

There used to be a ladder to success. It was the college→good job→marriage→house→family→cushy retirement. Sure, not everyone made it, there were a few broken rungs near the bottom but that was the guiding light to the good life and enough people made it that it seemed within reach

 

*[http://www.telegraph.co.uk/family/9035926/So-what-does-Kirsty-Young-mean-by-being-content.html So what does Kirsty Young mean by 'being content'?‎] (Telegraph 25.01.2012)

The presenter of Desert Island Discs has caused a stir by saying she doesn’t want her children to be happy.

 

*[http://www.todayonline.com/Commentary/EDC120125-0000002/The-economics-of-well-being The economics of well-being] (Today 25.01.2012)

Once-airy talk of replacing GDP with metrics of happiness is gaining credibility in important circles

 

*[http://www.marketwatch.com/story/gallup-and-healthways-release-december-2011-well-being-index-results-2012-01-23 Gallup and Healthways Release December 2011 Well-Being Index Results] (The Wall Street Journal 23.01.2012)
New Data Reveals Improvements in Americans' Emotional Health and Life Evaluation

 

*[http://www.kuna.net.kw/ArticleDetails.aspx?id=2216729&language=en Kuwait''s human development report will reveal priorities - minister] (Kuna 23.01.2012)

Aims of national human development reports are to achieve national consensus on the fundamentals of the issue and to increase transparency indicators in the country, said Kuwait's minister of commerce and industry on Monday.

 

*[http://www.thenationonlineng.net/2011/index.php/editorial/34155-poor-though-rich.html Poor, though rich] (The Nation 23.01.2012)

The citizenry must have gotten accustomed to this kind of sad news. In fact, it is no longer news that Nigeria is consistently at the bottom of the rung among the poor countries of the world.

 

*[http://www.thedailybeast.com/newsweek/2012/01/22/eight-leading-economists-sound-off-on-europe-s-fiscal-woes.html Eight Leading Economists Sound Off on Europe's Fiscal Woes‎] (The Daily Beast 23.01.2012)

As economic contagion continues in Europe, and with the future of the euro imperiled, Newsweek asked eight economists to describe the origin of the problem facing the single currency and what would happen if the euro were abolished.

 

*[http://www.ghanabusinessnews.com/2012/01/21/statistics-development-and-the-future-of-africa/ Statistics, development and the future of Africa‎] (GBN 21.01.2012)

Statistics does not seem to feature very much in Africa’s socio-economic development agenda, despite its importance and the fact that the use of good quality data has the ability to impact on development outcomes.

 

*[http://thinkprogress.org/economy/2012/01/19/406378/study-states-with-higher-taxes-are-better-for-children/?mobile=nc Study: States With Higher Taxes Are Better For Children] (Think Progress 19.01.2012)
It may seem intuitive that states that invest more in public services are better places for children to grow up, but the Foundation for Child Development now has the numbers to prove it. The foundation is out with a new study that confirms the “strong relationship” between higher state taxes and children’s health.

 
*[http://www.marinij.com/marinnews/ci_19762280 New 'Portrait of Marin' report explores Marin's income inequality gap] (Marjin Independent 19.01.2012)

A new report commissioned by the Marin Community Foundation illustrates the stark contrasts in health, life expectancy, education and recreation between Marin's wealthiest residents and those living in the county's low-income and minority neighborhoods.

 

*[http://www.todayszaman.com/columnistDetail_getNewsById.action?newsId=268983 Measuring economic freedom around the world and in Turkey] (Today Zaman 19.01.2012)

In the precarious and uneven recovery from the worst global financial and economic crisis in decades, the expanding role of governments in combating it has become increasingly controversial from the perspective of economic freedom.

 

*[http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/9023086/Hands-off-my-happiness-David-Cameron.html Hands off my happiness, David Cameron‎] (Telegraph 19.01.2012)

It's not the Government's business to make us happy - it should be focusing on getting the country working, writes Rachel Salvidge.

 

*[http://www.theatlantic.com/national/archive/2012/01/how-smarter-data-can-save-us-education/251519/ How smarter data can save US education] (Atlantic 19.01.2012)

Collecting data on individual students over time may give educators the insight they need to fix America's schools.

 

*[http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/news/education-puts-kids-on-a-path-out-of-poverty-1.1144001 Education puts kids on a path out of poverty] (Evening Times 18.01.2012)

The East End school on David Street, just off the Gallowgate, punches well above its weight in terms of achievement in education, singing and parental involvement, despite the fact that its pupils often come with the “baggage” of a chaotic upbringing.

 

*[http://www.iewy.com/40073-us-optimist-on-ethiopias-endeavor-to-achieve-mdgs.html US optimist on Ethiopia's endeavor to achieve MDGs‎] (IWEY News 18.01.2012)

US ambassador to Ethiopia Donald E. Booth said ongoing development efforts of Ethiopia would enable the country to attain the Millennium Development Goals.

 

*[http://www.mysanantonio.com/community/northeast/news/article/Debunking-debt-reduction-focusing-on-social-2588499.php Debunking debt reduction, focusing on social wealth] (San Antonio 18.01.2012)

What we really need, as Nobel Prize-winning economists Paul Krugman and Joseph Stiglitz point out in recent columns, is to get over the current obsession with debt reduction and instead focus on investing in our material and human infrastructure.

 

*[http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/jan/18/east-africa-drought-disaster-report East Africa's drought: the avoidable disaster] (The Guardian 18.01.2012)

Tens of thousands of lives could have been spared if agencies and governments had heeded the warnings, a report says
 
*[http://www.enewspf.com/latest-news/science-a-environmental/30166-un-calls-for-achieving-sustainable-energy-for-all-as-international-year-kicks-off.html UN calls for achieving sustainable energy for all] (ENews Park Forest 17.01.2012)

As the International Year of Sustainable Energy for All kicked off today, United Nations officials called on governments, the private sector and civil society to help expand energy access, improve efficiency and increase the use of renewables. 

*[http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/01/17/uk-china-population-idUSLNE80G00R20120117 China city dwellers exceed villagers for first time] (Reuters 17.01.2012)

More people lived in China's cities than in the countryside last year for the first time in history, a milestone that also points to labour supply strains in the world's No. 2 economy that could redraw the global manufacturing landscape. 

*[http://allafrica.com/stories/201201161377.html Nigeria: MDGs - FG to Spend N10 Billion Training Teachers] (AllAfrica 16.01.2012)

The Federal Government intends to spend N10billion training teachers under the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) project this year, according to estimates from the Ministry of Education sub-budget. 

*[http://articles.businessinsider.com/2012-01-03/markets/30583418_1_income-growth-economic-performance-welfare#ixzz1jhXiZf34 We Need To Rethink The Emphasis On Rapid Growth] (The Business Insider 17.01.2012)

Modern macroeconomics often seems to treat rapid and stable economic growth as the be-all and end-all of policy. That message is echoed in political debates, central-bank boardrooms, and front-page headlines. But does it really make sense to take growth as the main social objective in perpetuity, as economics textbooks implicitly assume?

 

*[http://news.bbc.co.uk/today/hi/today/newsid_9678000/9678612.stm Is happiness a government issue?] (BBC 17.01.2012)

People in Britain are enduring what is meant to be the most miserable day of the year.

 

*[http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/dominic-lawson/dominic-lawson-does-more-money-make-us-happier-of-course-it-does-6290551.html Does more money make us happier? Of course it does‎] (The Independent 17.01.2012)

If your policy is one of austerity it is advisable to use something other than economic growth as a measure of your success

 

*[http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/science/Its-official-money-can-buy-happiness/articleshow/11519278.cms It's official, money can buy happiness] (Times of India 17.01.2012)

Yes, money can buy you happiness, says a study, finally putting an end to the age-old debate.

 

*[http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/9017997/Can-the-government-make-us-happy.html Can the government make us happy?] (Telegraph 16.01.2012)

When it comes to happiness, myths abound. For centuries we have hotly debated what makes a good life, where satisfaction ultimately comes from and fundamentally how we can be happy.

 

*[http://thecitizen.co.tz/sunday-citizen/40-sunday-citizen-news/18884-optimism-in-life-why-tanzanians-are-lagging-behind-in-east-africa.html Optimism in life: Why Tanzanians are lagging behind in East Africa] (The Citizen 15.01.2012)

Tanzanians are least satisfied with their lives in the region, a global report says.

 

*[http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/jan/15/ghana-aid-10-years?newsfeed=true 'In 10 years' time, Ghana may not require any aid at all'] (Guardian 15.01.2012)

Ghana is one of Africa's great successes – a stable and thriving country that is testament to the impact of aid. As pressure on these budgets grows, Observer editor John Mulholland travels to the country to assess its progress

 

*[http://thecitizen.co.tz/sunday-citizen/40-sunday-citizen-news/18887-tanzanians-happiest-yet-most-stressed-in-east-africa.html Tanzanians happiest, yet most stressed in East Africa] (The Citizen 15.01.2012)

Tanzanians are concurrently the happiest but least optimistic people in East Africa.

 
</bullet_feed>

*[http://njtoday.net/2012/01/15/debt-fictions-vs-social-wealth/ Debt Fictions Vs. Social Wealth] (NJ Today 15.01.2012)

What we really need, as Nobel Prize-winning economists Paul Krugman and Joseph Stiglitz point out in recent columns, is to get over the current obsession with debt reduction and instead focus on investing in our material and human infrastructure.

 

*[http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/healthy-living/the-politics-of-positivity-why-is-the-government-measuring-our-happiness-levels-6288066.html The politics of positivity: Why is the Government measuring our happiness levels?] (The Independent 14.01.2012)

Statistics that measure how content we all are might not be as silly as they sound, argues sociologist William Davies

 

*[http://www.guardian.co.uk/global-development/interactive/2011/jul/11/a-political-history-of-africa-interactive A political history of Africa since 1900 - interactive] (The Guardian 14.01.2012)

On Saturday 9 July 2011 South Sudan celebrated its independence day. How did the current nation states emerge from colonisation?

 

*[http://pakobserver.net/detailnews.asp?id=135292 It is an established fact that education is the prime factor in economic and social well being of any nation] (The Pakistan Observer 14.01.2012)

All-out efforts are required to achieve the objective of Millennium Development Goals till 2015.

 

*[http://www.gallup.com/poll/152033/Fewer-Americans-Thriving-2011-2010.aspx Fewer Americans "Thriving" in 2011 Than in 2010] (Gallup 13.01.2012)

Life ratings improved in November and December compared with July to October

 

*[http://www.abc.net.au/unleashed/3770172.html Social inclusion- we need smarter policy] (ABC 13.01.2012)

There's been a bit of froth and bubble about the term social inclusion this summer.

 

*[http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2012/jan/13/of-course-children-unhappy Of course children are unhappy. They live here too] (Guardian 13.01.2012)

The Children's Society report that one in 11 kids are not happy isn't surprising. But treating their suffering separately is pointless

 

*[http://articles.philly.com/2012-01-12/news/30620245_1_violent-crime-infant-mortality-teen-pregnancy Measuring the cost of violence] (The Inquirer 12.01.2012)

Homicide, other violent crimes, incarceration, policing, and guns are costing this country hundreds of billions of dollars, and millions of jobs, every year. According to conservative estimates by the Institute for Economics and Peace, if the United States were on par with Canada on all five of those fronts, it could save $361 billion a year and add 2.7 million jobs. Given America's high debt and unemployment, it could certainly benefit from both.

*[http://www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/article-2085839/Children-Society-report-Lets-childhood-children.html Let's give childhood back to our children] (Mail Online 12.01.2012)

David Cameron a while ago took to riffing about the state of our national happiness, telling us - co-incidentally enough just as the economy was going down the Swanney - that it was time 'we admitted that there's more to life than money, and it's time we focused not just on GDP but on GWB – general wellbeing'.

 

*[http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/industry-and-economy/article2796042.ece Stiglitz lauds India's right to food scheme] (The Hindu 12.01.2012)

India's move to recognise the right to food as a basic human right would lead to the implementation of the world's largest social protection programme against hunger and will set an example for the world to follow, said Prof Joseph E. Stiglitz of Columbia University and Nobel Laureate.

 

*[http://www.gallup.com/poll/152000/Americans-Standard-Living-Perceptions-Best-June.aspx?utm_source=google&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=syndication Americans' Standard-of-Living Perceptions Best Since June] (Gallup 12.01.2012)

Fifty-five percent of upper-income Americans say their standard of living is "getting better"

 

*[http://business-standard.com/india/news/stiglitz-pat-for-indian-economy/461558/ Stiglitz pat for Indian economy] (Business Standard 12.01.2012)

Noted economist Joseph Stiglitz on Wednesday praised the Indian economy’s performance, saying the country had been doing a good job when institutions in the US and several other countries faltered. India is doing a good job and has been pursuing a balanced and cautious policy, he said.
 

*[http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2012/jan/12/unhappy-childhoods-childrens-society-low Unhappy childhoods afflict one in 10 youngsters, finds Children's Society] (The Guardian 12.01.2012)

Survey of 30,000 children aged eight to 16 pinpoints family relationships and 'materialistic traps' behind low well-being

 

*[http://businessmirror.com.ph/home/economy/21841-neda-urged-to-measure-phl-gross-national-happiness- Neda urged to measure PHL ‘gross national happiness’] (Business Mirror 11.01.2012)

To help measure the general well-being of Filipinos, Sen. Loren Legarda filed Senate Resolution 672, urging the National Economic and Development Authority to develop new indicators that will reflect the happiness and well-being of Filipinos.

 

*[http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/checkpoint-washington/post/new-index-ranks-countries-on-nuclear-security/2012/01/11/gIQACHo5qP_blog.html New index ranks countries on nuclear security] (Washington Post 11.01.2012)

On Wednesday, a Washington-based group that seeks to reduce global threats from nuclear weapons released a first-ever scorecard on the security of nuclear materials worldwide, ranking 32 countries on criteria such as their commitments to global norms, known security measures and other factors including corruption and government instability.

 

*[http://ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=106406 Africa Begins to Rise Above Aid] (IPS News 11.01.2012)

An increasing number of African countries are beginning to step away from aid dependency, as the domestic private sector becomes the engine of growth across much of Africa. 

*[http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/126297/senator-wants-govt-to-draft-indicators-of-filipinos-gross-happiness Senator wants gov’t to draft indicators of FIlipinos’ ‘gross happiness’] (Inquirer News 11.01.2012)

A senator wants the government to come up with new growth indicators that would measure Filipinos’ “gross happiness.”

 

*[http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=40913&Cr=education&Cr1= UNESCO chief stresses need for innovation to ensure quality, equitable education] (UN News 10.01.2012)

The head of the United Nations agency tasked with promoting education today underscored the role that information and communications technologies can play in ensuring quality education and equal opportunities to learning even in countries that lag behind because of limited resources.

 

*[http://www.thenationonlineng.net/2011/index.php/health/32654-can-nigeria-realise-mdgs-4-and-5-by-2015.html Can Nigeria realise MDGs 4 and 5 by 2015?] (The Nation 10.01.2012)

No fewer than 1,000 women and girls die daily in Nigeria

 

*[http://www.newdesignworld.com/press/story/470584 ADePT: A Helping Hand in Evidence-Based Decision Making: Free World Bank Software Empowers Users] (New Design World 09.01.2012)

As the World Bank goes from open data to open knowledge, a free software program created by Bank researchers is offering staff and policy makers around the world a helping hand in evidence-based decision making.

 
*[http://english.ruvr.ru/2012/01/08/63531122.html Russia's place in Philips Health and Well-being Survey‎] (The Voice of Russia 09.01.2012)

A survey conducted in 30 countries by Philips shows that when asked to assess their wellbeing, people mainly rely on health, standard of living and relations with family and friends.

 

*[http://www.gallup.com/poll/151940/Suffering-Iraq-Highest-2008.aspx?utm_source%3Dtagrss%26utm_medium%3Drss%26utm_campaign%3Dsyndication "Suffering" in Iraq Highest Since 2008] (Gallup 09.01.2012)

More Iraqis experiencing negative emotions daily, as U.S. withdraws forces 

*[http://www.businessspectator.com.au/bs.nsf/Article/European-debt-crisis-Wall-Street-US-jobs-unemploym-pd20120109-QBRKM?OpenDocument&src=sph&src=rot Data divergence] (Business Spectator 09.01.2012)

That a 200,000 lift in US payrolls failed to enthuse the market on Friday night should give us a feel for what will drive action in the near-term.

 

*[http://www.onlinenews.com.pk/details.php?id=187865 Pakistan may not meet MDG targets on health, education: WB] (Online News 09.01.2012)

The World Bank has said that it will be difficult for Pakistan to meet the Millennium Development Goals targets on health and education by 2015.

 

*[http://www.guardian.co.uk/sustainable-business/globalisation-greener-well-being?newsfeed=true 2012 could see globalisation 2.0 take off] (The Guardian 06.01.2012)

A greener, more equitable and wellbeing-orientated form of globalisation could be on the horizon says Dax Lovegrove

 

*[http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/277239/20120105/u-s-economic-recovery-gaining-momentum-gdp.htm?cid=2 U.S. Economic Recovery Gains, but Headwinds Persist] (International Business Times 05.01.2012)

Historically, forecasts accompany the new year the way happiness accompanies a couple on their wedding day.

 

*[http://blogs.wsj.com/economics/2012/01/03/secondary-sources-growth-imperative-inflation-crisis-narratives-2012-outlook/ Secondary Sources: Growth Imperative, Inflation, Crisis Narratives, 2012 Outlook] (Wall Street Journal 03.01.2012)

A roundup of economic news from around the Web.

 

*[http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/08/magazine/the-other-reason-europe-is-going-broke.html The Other Reason Europe Is Going Broke] (New York Times 03.01.2012)

One great way to start a bar fight during an American Economic Association conference is to claim that the U.S. economy is preferable to Europe’s.

 

*[http://blogs.wsj.com/economics/2012/01/03/secondary-sources-growth-imperative-inflation-crisis-narratives-2012-outlook/ Secondary Sources: Growth Imperative, Inflation, Crisis Narratives, 2012 Outlook] (Wall St Journal 03.01.2012)

A roundup of economic news from around the Web.

 

*[http://www.technologyreview.com/blog/arxiv/27456/ Statisticians Reveal What Makes America Happy] (Technology Review 03.01.2012)

A statistical analysis of attitudes in the US reveals the main determinants of happiness but also suggests that interpreting the data is fraught with danger

 

*[http://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2012/01/gdp-needs-help-lets-build-a-second-measure-of-economic-strength/250689/ GDP Needs Help: Let's Build a Second Measure of Economic Strength] (The Atlantic 03.01.2012)

If the crowning achievement of 20th-century economics was constructing a national income statement, the crowning achievement of 21st-century economics should be a national balance sheet

 

*[http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2012/01/03/uk-economy-forecast-gross-national-happiness_n_1180485.html UK Economy: Bleak Forecasts, But Are We Really Unhappy?] (The Huffington Post 03.01.2012)

Throughout 2011, news media have charted the fractional rises in gross domestic product growth with the fevered intensity of gamblers clutching at their last betting slip.

 

*[http://www.project-syndicate.org/commentary/rogoff88/English Rethinking the Growth Imperative] (Project Syndicate 02.01.2012)

Modern macroeconomics often seems to treat rapid and stable economic growth as the be-all and end-all of policy.

 

*[http://globalpublicsquare.blogs.cnn.com/2012/01/02/rogoff-rethinking-the-growth-imperative/ Rogoff: Rethinking the growth imperative] (CNN 02.01.2012)

Modern macroeconomics often seems to treat rapid and stable economic growth as the be-all and end-all of policy.

 

*[http://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2012/01/assessing-living-standards/ Assessing living standards] (Pakistan Today 02.01.2012)

UNDP has made significant criteria to evaluate how happy the masses are in different corners of the world.

 

*[http://www.ezega.com/News/NewsDetails.aspx?Page=heads&NewsID=3176 Ethiopia One of the Saddest Countries in the World?] (Ezega 02.01.2012)

Last week Forbes Magazine, in its list of the happiest and saddest countries in the world, disclosed that we are one of three saddest nations in the world.

 

*[http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/story/2011/12/30/happiness-index-canada.html?cmp=rss Global 'happiness index' ranks Canada 23rd] (The Atlantic 30.12.2011)

Expectations, cultural perspectives define happiness, pollster says

 

*[http://news.in.msn.com/international/article.aspx?cp-documentid=5705883 GDP not enough to measure progress] (MSN News 26.12.2011)

The key message from a Cambridge University study about a country''s happiness is that the UK government, like many around the world, now recognises that economic measures such as GDP do not provide adequate information about a society''s progress.

 

*[http://www.financialexpress.com/news/gdp-fails-happiness-progress-test/892189/ GDP fails happiness progress test] (Financial Express 26.12.2011)

The key message from a Cambridge University study about a country's happiness is that the UK government, like many around the world, now recognises that economic measures such as GDP do not provide adequate information about a society's progress.

 

*[http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2011/12/22/nation/10126179&sec=nation People, not numbers] (The Star 22.12.2011)

If you work in the Government, it is very easy to fall into the trap of thinking in terms of numbers and forget that behind every statistic there is a human story.

 

*[http://www.project-syndicate.org/commentary/elerian12/English The New International Economic Disorder] (Project Syndicate 21.12.2011)

A new economic order is taking shape before our eyes, and it is one that includes accelerated convergence between the old Western powers and the emerging world’s major new players.

 

*[http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=40808&Cr=Bahrain&Cr1= Bahrain must address lack of trust in Government, says UN rights chief] (UN News 21.12.2011)

The United Nations human rights chief today called on Bahraini authorities to address the “deepening mistrust” between the Government and civil society, including by releasing those detained for participating in peaceful protests.

 

*[http://ftpapp.app.com.pk/en_/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=171645&Itemid=2 UN reports improved access to safe drinking water, but poorest countries still lagging] (Associated Press of Pakistan 21.12.2011)

The internationally stated goal of improving access to safe drinking water across the globe is likely to be achieved well ahead of the 2015 deadline, but large numbers of people in the world's least developed regions will still not benefit, according to a U.N. report released Wednesday

 

*[http://www.vancouversun.com/business/Editorial+Happiness+more+than+just+genes/5889878/story.html Happiness more than just genes and GDP] (The Vancouver Sun 21.12.2011)

“Happiness,” said Aristotle, “depends upon ourselves.”

 

*[http://news.in.msn.com/national/article.aspx?cp-documentid=5694324 Happiness true reflection of sustainable growth: Bhutan PM] (MSN News 21.12.2011)

Bhutan's Prime Minister Jigmi Y. Thinley Tuesday said that happiness is the purpose and ultimate desire of every human being and for real sustainable growth, the needs of body and mind have to be attended to equally.

 

*[http://ibnlive.in.com/generalnewsfeed/news/india-has-to-learn-from-bhutans-gnp-experience-pm/939828.html India has to learn from Bhutan's GNP experience: PM] (IBN News 20.12.2011)

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today lavished praises on his Bhutanese counterpart Jigmi Y Thinley saying he gave "practical meaning" to the Gross National Happiness concept of the Kingdom in the functioning of his government and wanted India to learn from it.

 

*[http://business.inquirer.net/35863/gov%E2%80%99t-urged-to-%E2%80%98get-real%E2%80%99-on-gdp-targets Gov’t urged to ‘get real’ on GDP targets] (Business Inquirer 20.12.2011)

Some economists have questioned the National Economic and Development Authority’s forecast that the Philippines has a “good chance” of meeting its 4.5 to 5.5 percent economic growth target for 2011 and its 5 to 6 percent aim for 2012.

 

*[http://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2011/12/improving-the-hd-indicators/ Improving the HD indicators] (Pakistan Today 20.12.2011)

It seems that the current political developments which are capricious have overshadowed the findings of the recently released UNDP report on the Human Development Index

 

*[http://www.opendemocracy.net/ourkingdom/eivind-hoff/how-crisis-may-puncture-gdp-cult How the crisis may puncture the GDP cult‎] (Open Democracy 19.12.2011)

Polaris, or the North Star, is a reliable guide to measure one’s latitude in the northern hemisphere.

 

*[http://www.edmontonjournal.com/business/Real+progress+made+against+worst+poverty/5880667/story.html Real progress made against worst poverty] (Edmonton Journal 19.12.2011)

But with a billion extremely poor people on Earth, funding must only go to effective organizations

 

*[http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2075766/Euro-president-sends-200-world-leaders-collection-essays-happiness.html?ito=feeds-newsxml Euro president tries to spread a little festive joy, by sending 200 world leaders a collection of essays on 'happiness'] (MailOnline 19.12.2011)

With the EU battling against failing economies and a faltering single currency, world leaders are embroiled in a worrying and traumatic financial crisis this winter

 

*[http://www.neurope.eu/article/using-open-innovation-ip-collaboration Using open innovation for IP collaboration] (New Europe 19.12.2011)

One of the initial discussion points, and personal objectives, was to place some kind of parametres on the notion of open innovation.

 

*[http://www.wptv.com/dpp/news/science_tech/a-look-at-how-social-media-shaped-major-events-in-the-year-2011 A look at how social media shaped major events in the year 2011] (Channel 5 News 19.12.2011)

In 2011, social media gave legs to the 'Occupy' movement and mass protests in the Middle East.

 

*[http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/australias-national-statistician-prefers-a-dashboard-approach-to-wellbeing-20111214-1ouow.html Australia's national statistician prefers a "dashboard" approach to wellbeing] (15.12.2011)

The Australian Bureau of Statistics has been measuring social progress since 2002, writes Imogen Wall, project leader of the Bureau's Measures of Australia's Progress 2.0 consultation process.

 

*[http://www.economist.com/blogs/dailychart/2011/09/employment Defending Jobs] (The Economist 14.12.2011)

Who are the world's biggest employers?

 

*[http://www.beta.undp.org/content/undp/en/home/ourwork/goodwillambassadors/match_against_poverty.html 24,400 fill arena for Match Against Poverty] (UNDP 14.12.2011)

With a final score of 5-4, UNDP won the 2011 Match Against Poverty against HSV in Hamburg, Germany, on 13 December, 2011 before more than 24,000 spectators. The match was broadcast live in more than 25 countries.

 

*[http://vibeghana.com/2011/12/13/an-african-gender-statistics-group-in-the-offing/ An African Gender Statistics Group in the offing] (13.12.2011)

Dr Grace Bediako, Government Statistician, has said an African Gender Statistic Group will soon be launched to help with the mainstreaming of gender into national and international statistics programmes.

 

*[http://www.deccanherald.com/content/209576/time-green-index.html Time for a Green Index] (13.12.2011)

A Mongolian environment science professor notes that per capita carbon emissions are a simple, available and quantifiable indicator, which is seen to be positively and strongly correlated with income and not at all with health and education

 

*[http://www.gulf-times.com/site/topics/article.asp?cu_no=2&item_no=475331&version=1&template_id=36&parent_id=16 Anti-corruption centre launched] (Gulf Times 12.12.2011)

The Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption Centre was launched in Qatar yesterday with a call by the United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon to fight corruption and promote human rights to achieve all the Millennium Development Goals.

 

*[http://www.vanguardngr.com/2011/12/2-in-5-nigerian-children-chronically-malnourished-experts/ 2 in 5 Nigerian children chronically malnourished – Experts] (The Vanguard 12.12.2011)

With prices of foods skyrocketing, more hard times await Nigerian children as statistics available have shown that two out of every five Nigerian children are chronically malnourished.

 

*[http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/Our-mean-streets-seen-as-safest-in-urban-india/articleshow/11089617.cms Our mean streets seen as safest in urban India] (Times of India 12.12.2011)

Despite the recent spate of murders, robberies, attacks on women and petty thefts here, Mumbai in general perception remains among the safest cities in the country

 

*[http://www.forbes.com/sites/lisanapoli/2011/12/09/out-with-the-gdp-in-with-the-gnh-japan-and-taiwan-to-mimic-tiny-bhutans-happiness-index/ Out with the GDP, in with the GNH; Japan and Taiwan to mimic tiny Bhutan's happiness index] (Forbes 09.12.2011)

After a visit from the young King of Bhutan and his beautiful new pride, Japan got “Gross National Happiness” fever, it seems, and so has Taiwan.

 

*[http://www.smh.com.au/national/putting-a-figure-on-inequality-adds-to-strength-of-statistical-spotlight-20111208-1olgo.html Putting a figure on inequality adds to strength of statistical spotlight] (Sydney Morning Herald 09.12.2011)

New numbers are to the press as shiny bottle caps are to magpies.

 

*[http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/society-and-culture/theres-so-much-more-to-wealth-than-money-20111207-1ojbx.html so much more to wealth] (Sydney Morning Herald 08.12.2011)

The figures for the growth in gross domestic product were out again this week, but for some time I have been concerned about our national fixation on GDP.

 

*[http://media.theage.com.au/business/businessday/why-we-need-this-index-2820728.html Why we need this index] (The Age 08.12.2011)
video

 

*[http://www.smh.com.au/business/wellbeing-index-at-a-glance-20111207-1ojc0.html Wellbeing index at a glance] (Sydney Morning Herald 08.12.2011)

The Herald - Lateral Economics Index of Australia's Well-being adjusts GDP to take into account the changes in value of the nation's stock of physical, environmental and human capital. It also adjusts for changes in health, inequality and job satisfaction to provide a better measure of national wellbeing than traditional economic measures.

 

*[http://www.ippmedia.com/frontend/index.php?l=36162 Achieving MDGs: Pace still too slow] (IPP News 08.12.2011)

Bo Shide spends all day and many nights on the internet. But he is not the average Chinese “netizen”.

 

*[http://www.forbes.com/sites/christopherhelman/2011/12/07/the-worlds-happiest-and-saddest-countries/ The World's Happiest And Saddest Countries] (Forbes 07.12.2011)

What is happiness? Charles Schulz, the creator of Peanuts, wrote, “Happiness is a warm puppy.” John Lennon had a different take: “Happiness is a warm gun.”

 

*[http://www.koreaherald.com/national/Detail.jsp?newsMLId=20111206000744 Koreans still struggle to find satisfaction] (Korea Times 07.12.2011)

Efforts needed to transform national achievements into individual happiness

 

*[http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=40657&Cr=development+aid&Cr1= Developing nations risk falling behind due to global economic crisis – UN officials] (UN News Centre 07.12.2011)

Two United Nations officials called today for developed countries to fulfil their aid pledges for developing countries, stressing that without aid, they run the risk of falling behind as the global economic crisis spreads to their nations.

 

*[http://www.sunnewsonline.com/webpages/features/freekick/2011/dec/07/freekick-07-12-2011-003.html The HDI report and Nigeria’s future] (SunNews 07.12.2011)

The Cabinet Office unveiled on Monday a set of indicators designed to measure public happiness to complement government economic statistics.

 

*[http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/nn20111206a7.html Government drafts 'happiness indicators' to supplement economic data] (The Japan Times 06.12.2011)

Announced at the opening of an Asia-Pacific forum on well-being held in Tokyo, the statistics are designed to gauge happiness based on three major factors — socioeconomic conditions, physical and mental health, and relationships. 

*[http://www.vancouverobserver.com/politics/news/2011/12/06/canadas-rich-are-way-richer-oecd-junks-trickle-down-economics Canada's rich are way richer, as OECD junks trickle-down economics] (Vancouver Observer 06.12.2011)

Some breathed a sigh of relief last month when Occupy movement protests against economic inequality across the continent were evicted – be it by fire code and injunction, as in Vancouver, or police spies and massive tactical team raids as in parts of the U.S.

 

*[http://focustaiwan.tw/ShowNews/WebNews_Detail.aspx?ID=201112060022&Type=aTOD Talk of the Day--Taiwan, Japan to adopt GNH index] (Taiwan Times 06.12.2011)

As a fast-developing neighboring country to the south, Taiwan is also considering conducting a su

 

*[http://www.ctvbc.ctv.ca/servlet/an/local/CTVNews/20111205/organization-economic-cooperation-development-oecd-inequality-report-canada-111205/20111205/?hub=BritishColumbiaHome OECD report finds income inequality rising in Canada] (CTV News 06.12.2011)

A new report finds that the gap between the rich and the poor just keeps getting wider in Canada.

 

*[http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/economy/indicators/inequality-rises-in-india-says-oecd/articleshow/10994996.cms Inequality rises in India, says OECD] (The Economic Times 05.12.2011)

India has become "less equal over time" and earnings inequality in the country has increased significantly since the early 1990s, Paris-based think tank OECD said today.

 

*[http://climatechange.worldbank.org/content/call-action-climate-smart-agriculture-forest-landscapes?cid=EXT_FBWB_D_EXT A Call to Action on Climate-Smart Agriculture, Forest Landscapes] (World Bank 05.12.2011)

Researchers, advocates, development partners, business people and policymakers gathered this weekend for Agriculture and Rural Development Day 3 and Forest Day 5.

 

*[http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/opinion/2011/12/201112215255925806.html In need of climate justice] (Al Jazerra 05.12.2011)

'The richest countries caused the problem, but it is the world's poorest who are suffering from the effects.'

 

*[http://one.org/blog/2011/12/05/the-2011-corruption-perceptions-index-demanding-better-government/ The 2011 Corruption Perceptions Index: Demanding better government] (ONE 05.12.2011)

Transparency International defines corruption as the abuse of entrusted power for private gain

 

*[http://www.economist.com/node/21541226?fsrc=scn/fb/wl/tb/work3 Women and Work] (The Economist 05.12.2011)

Women have made huge progress in the workplace, says Barbara Beck, Special reports editor of The Economist, and the author of our special report on the subject.

 

*[http://video.nytimes.com/video/2011/12/04/opinion/100000001204421/the-role-of-youth.html?smid=fb-nytimes&WT.mc_id=VI-E-FB-SM-LIN-TRY-120511-NYT-NA&WT.mc_ev=click The Role of Youth] (New York Times 05.12.2011)

Video - The filmmaker Matt Wolf and the writer Jon Savage reflect on the history of youth in times of crisis.

 

*[http://www.oecd.org/document/40/0,3746,en_21571361_44315115_49166760_1_1_1_1,00.html Society: Governments must tackle gap between rich and poor, says OECD] (OECD 05.12.2011)

The gap between rich and poor in OECD countries has reached its highest level for over over 30 years, and governments must act quickly to tackle inequality, according to a new OECD report. 

*[http://www.calgaryherald.com/news/Aboriginal+statistics+reveal+life+better+reserve/5808801/story.html Aboriginal statistics reveal life is better off the reserve.] (Calgary Herald 04.12.2011)

Are First Nations reserves in trouble? The recent coverage of northern Ontario's Attawapiskat reserve and its squalid conditions suggest the answer is yes. So, too, Ottawa's decision to put Attawapiskat band finances under third-party control.

 

*[http://www.voanews.com/english/news/africa/pan/New-Report-Says-Africa-Not-on-Track-to-Meet-Clean-Water-and-Sanitation-MDGs-134967858.html New Report Says Africa Not on Track to Meet Clean Water and Sanitation MDGs] (Voice of America 03.11.2011)

A recent report says many countries in Africa are not on track to meet adequate sanitation and clean water standards pledged for the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

 

*[http://www.sbwire.com/press-releases/sbwire-116924.htm The United Nations a Special Week of Many Cultures Discussing Our Planet's Future] (SB Wire 02.12.2011)

 

*[http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2068602/David-Camerons-happiness-survey--2m-Britons-fairly-happy.html A £2m bill to find out that most of us are fairly happy] (Mail Online 02.12.2011)

After £2million and several months, an official inquiry to discover whether we are happy has concluded that most of us are.

 

*[http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/editors-choice/2011/12/02/as-survey-says-brits-are-happy-despite-economic-gloom-scots-celebs-reveal-what-puts-a-smile-on-their-faces-86908-23604608/ As survey says Brits are happy despite economic gloom, Scots celebs reveal what puts a smile on their faces] (Daily Record 02.12.2011)

We're in the grip of an economic disaster, with people in fear for their jobs and financial security - but a new survey claims we are still a happy bunch.

 

*[http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/come-rain-or-shine-eurozone-turmoil-riots-we-keep-smiling-through-officially-at-least-6270909.html Come rain or shine, eurozone turmoil, riots... we keep smiling through] (The Independent 02.12.2011)

The first results of the PM's happiness survey find Britons feel just fine – or so they say

 

*[http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/women_shealth/8928515/Official-figures-suggest-women-and-pensioners-happiest.html Official figures suggest women and pensioners happiest] (Telegraph 01.12.2011)

Women and pensioners are the happiest people in Britain, new figures from the Office for National Statistics suggest.

 

*[http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-15989841 Well-being survey: Three-quarters satisfied with lives] (BBC 02.12.2011)

About three-quarters of people in the UK are satisfied with life, according to a study to measure well-being by the Office for National Statistics.

 

*[http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2011/dec/01/happy-britons?newsfeed=true Can we take happy Britons at face value?] (The Guardian 01.12.2011)

The 1930s brought poverty but also better health – partly because inequality declined. Today's situation is rather different

 

*[http://www.guardian.co.uk/global-development/2011/dec/01/china-india-aid-partnership China and India to join aid partnership on new terms] (The Guardian 01.12.2011)

China and India have agreed to join a global partnership on aid effectiveness but on vague terms that cast doubt on their willingness to stick by principles set by traditional donors.
 

== Community notice board ==

''The community notice board is a place for the community to interact. Feel free to post questions and comments here''.

A new OpenSource project is trying a strategy to prevent researcher bias arising from the '''weighting of indicators for composite indices''' (alias 'mashup indices'). It is called [[Yourtopia]] and would be very grateful for your critiques, suggestions and participation. 

ESDS International has made the World Bank World Development Indicators (DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5257/wb/wdi/2011-10) available as Resource Description Framework (RDF) flat files. RDF is one of the key ingredients of '''Linked Data''' providing a generic graph-based data model for describing things, including their relationships with other things. This Linked Data is freely available and we'd be interested to hear from anyone who has/intends to make use of this resource - see http://www.esds.ac.uk/international/news/news.asp#17jan12. 

== Archive ==

'''''For blog posts on progress prior to 2011, see:'''''

*[[Community Portal Archive|The Community Portal Archive]]

[[Category:Community_Portal]]

World Happiness Report

2012-03-30T06:07:37Z

Tronk: /* See also */

== About ==
The event, entitled Wellbeing & Happiness: Defining A New Economic Paradigm, will involve world leaders and global experts from a wide range of fields. It builds on a UN General Assembly resolution agreed in July 2011 encouraging countries to promote the happiness of their citizens. To mark the conference, a new World Happiness Report is being released, edited by John Helliwell, Jeffrey Sachs and Action for Happiness co-founder Richard Layard.

== Download the report ==
*[http://www.earthinstitute.columbia.edu/sitefiles/file/Sachs%20Writing/2012/World%20Happiness%20Report.pdf World Happiness Report]

See updated chapter on [http://www.ophi.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/Ura-et-al-Bhutan-Happiness-Chapter.pdf?cda6c1 GNH and GNH Index]. One of the major changes relates to the categories of ‘Happiness’ these are now split into 4 groups depending on degree of happiness: Deeply Happy, Extensively Happy, Narrowly Happy and Unhappy. 

== See also ==
*[[Happiness]]
* [http://www.trojanalert.net/ Trojan]
*[[Event:High level meeting on Happiness and Well Being Defining a New Economic Paradigm]]
[[Category:Publications]]

Arab Knowledge Report 2010/2011

2012-03-29T06:52:28Z

Hannah:

== About ==
The Arab Knowledge Report 2010/2011, ‘Preparing Future Generations for the Knowledge Society,’ is based on the principal findings of the Arab Knowledge Report, 2009, which drew attention to a knowledge gap and low levels of cognitive performance among Arabs in knowledge-related areas. The 2009 report illustrated that as knowledge is crucial to achieving sustainable human development, the political will and mobilisation of resources and capabilities would be necessary to bridge gaps in this area and to build the desired knowledge society.

The Arab Knowledge Report 2010/2011, is based on a broad conception of the knowledge society that argues for the presence of three components: skills, values and enabling environments. The 2010/2011 report approximates that more than 60 percent of the population in Arab countries is aged 25 or less and found that within the region and noted a decrease in cognitive skills among youth, specifically regarding problem solving, written communication, the use of technology and capacity to search for information. In 2007, 29 percent of Arabs over the age of 15 were illiterate in comparison to 16 percent globally and in 2010, 19 percent of Arab children aged 6 years and less had access to public childcare centres compared to 41 percent globally.

The key areas of activity for building the knowledge society referred to in the report include ‘the transfer and acquisition of knowledge and technologies, the provision of enabling environments and employing them in the service of human development’. Emphasis is placed on the principles of this movement which include ‘freedom, integration with the development needs of the society' as well as 'openness and intercommunication in all areas including scientific technology and humanities’.

The 2009 Arab Knowledge Report emphasised the importance of the construction of the Arab citizen and Arab knowledge capital, built through [[education]], to the creation of the knowledge society. The report stated the need to build a ‘critical mass’ of qualified human capital that was intellectually capable of driving the process of building the knowledge society and bringing the economy forward for the benefit of future generations. The Arab Knowledge Report 2010/2011, develops this point further and addresses the issue of preparing the coming Arab generations to integrate into the knowledge society.

To bridge the knowledge gap it is argued that future generations need to be taken care of starting from the ground up, by developing a plan aimed at building a new base of knowledge for children and the youth, and laying foundations to facilitate the renewal of society’s knowledge base and to capitalize on the options that such a situation offers. It is also necessary to develop opportunities to satisfy the ‘hunger’ for knowledge among the youth without prejudice of their values, cultural identity, and intellectual and moral references.

The report is divided into six chapters and offers four case studies which highlight the need to improve conditions to better equip new generations with the intellectual characteristics required to access the knowledge society. The report identifies the challenges posed by the environments in most Arab countries which are ‘represented by weak corporate governance, high rates of corruption, weak indicators of freedom, an absence of democracy, increasing rates of poverty and unemployment, restrictions on women’s freedom, and the failure of economic reform policies to achieve social justice and provide employment opportunities for the youth’. The report, illustrates the issues the Arab Youth suffers from with respect to existing political and social conditions.

After the report’s field studies had been completed and during the writing of the report in late 2010 and early 2011, there was a wave of popular protests in most parts of the Arab region which came to be known as the [[Arab Spring]] in which the Arab youth were key actors, calling for change and political reform, democracy and social justice and the fight against corruption.

== Download report ==
*[http://204.200.211.31/Update_March_2012/AKR%202011/AKR_%20English.PDF Arab Knowledge Report 2010/2011]

== See also ==
[[Arab Spring]]
[[Education]]
== External links ==

[[Category:Child_well-being]]

Social capital

2012-03-29T04:50:04Z

Philippa:

{{caution}}
== Overview ==
Social capital is a sociological concept which refers to the value of social relations and the role of cooperation and confidence to get collective or economic results. Defined by the OECD, social capital is "... the norms and social relations embedded in the social structures of societies that enable people to co-ordinate action to achieve desired goals."<ref>OECD Employment Outlook, June 2000, Chapter 2, Disparities in Regional Labour Markets, page 43.</ref>

== Progress and social capital ==

== See also ==
*[[Social Cohesion]]

== References ==
<references/>

== Further reading ==
*[http://www.oecd.org/dataoecd/25/6/1825848.pdf Social Capital: Measurement and Consequences], Putnam, R. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University

== External links ==
*[http://web.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/TOPICS/EXTSOCIALDEVELOPMENT/EXTTSOCIALCAPITAL/0,,contentMDK:20305939~menuPK:418220~pagePK:148956~piPK:216618~theSitePK:401015~isCURL:Y,00.html World Bank- Measuring the Dimensions of Social Capital]