This presentation was prepared for a conference in Brussels, organised by the Danish Embassy in Belgium and the Young Professionals in Foreign Policy on 4 June 2015. The title of the conference was 'Beyond GDP. Why Happiness is Good Policy'.

1. Happiness and well-being.
Do they make good policy?
Jasper Bergink
Blogger and happiness researcher
Danish Embassy/YPFP event, Brussels, 4 June 2015
jasper@forastateofhappiness.com
www.forastateofhappiness.com

2. About me

3. Well-being policies are the great
promise of our times
• Data for well-being policies are available
Large amounts of data on happiness exist
• Global and EU governments should play a role…
Collecting data ‘beyond GDP’ is necessary
• …but the real difference is made at local level
Attention for well-being improves social,
environmental and health policy

4. Happiness is all about statistics!
• Moment of happiness is personal, quality of
life is measurable
• ‘Beyond GDP’ refers to efforts to go beyond
economic data in analysis and policy
formulation
• Widespread awareness of limitations of GDP

6. Well-being evaluation improves
policy
• Symbolic: UN International Day of Happiness
• EU beyond GDP strategy
• Alternative indicators such as the OECD Better
Life Index and the Social Progress Index

7. OECD: Brussels

8. OECD: Copenhagen

9. Indices don’t change lives –
policies can!
• Regional and local governments can achieve
most in developing policies or ‘interventions’
• Many local, regional and sectoral initiatives
– ‘Happiness budget’ (Almelo, Netherlands)
– Jacksonville Community Indicators (Florida, US)
– ‘Five ways of well-being’

10. Fulfill the promise of
well-being policies
• Reshape high-level policy objectives
Inequality-adjusted growth as a goal?
• Monitor and benchmark performance
Use collected ‘beyond GDP’ is necessary
• Make the difference on the local level
Social, environmental and health policies are in
development

11. Thank you
www.forastateofhappiness.com
jasper@forastateofhappiness.com
Twitter: @jbergink