The presentation aims to provide policymakers with keys to integrate well-being and happiness in public policy. I make three suggestions to policymakers: i) to measure well-being to inform public policy; ii) to actively advance well-being (as a challenge to GDP) as a political agenda; and iii) to pay attention to the happiness at work of government staff. I presented these slides under the title "Well-being policies. An unfulfilled promise" at the Foro Bienestar y Desarrollo (Well-being and Development Forum). The Foro was organised by the government of the region of Jalisco in Guadalajara, Mexico, from 24-26 November 2014. I am an independent researcher and blogger specialising in happiness and well-being. Previously, I delivered a TEDx talk with the title ‘For A State of Happiness’ at TEDxLuxembourgCity. I edit a blog with the same name (www.forastateofhappiness.com). The blog is dedicated to the discovery of intuitive and scientific knowledge about happiness and well-being. Through my explorations, I want to help people, societies and states achieve their own State of Happiness. For more information, see www.forastateofhappiness.com, or contact me via jasper [at] forastateofhappiness.com, or on Twitter: @jbergink.

1. Well-being policies.
An unfulfilled promise?
Jasper Bergink
Blogger and happiness researcher
Foro Bienestar, Guadalajara, 25 November 2014
jasper@forastateofhappiness.com
www.forastateofhappiness.com

2. About me

3. Your keys to fulfill the promise
• Well-being policy can’t be a silo
Integrate measurements across policy areas
• Well-being is a political issue
Policy must be communicated to citizens
• It starts with happiness at work
Only happy staff can make citizens happy

4. Well-being indicators support policy
• Term ‘Beyond GDP’ refers to efforts to go
beyond economic data in analysis and policy
formulation
• Widespread awareness of limitations of GDP

5. We are winning the
‘battle of measurement’
• Alternative indexes challenge GDP
• Dashboards have benchmarking function
– Example: OECD Better Life Index

6. OECD: Jalisco

7. OECD: Brussels

9. An integrated dashboard adds
valuable information
• Listen to RFK: measure what is worthwhile
• Bring all policy areas together
– Include economic perspectives

10. Indices don’t change lives – policies can!
• ‘Battle of policy’ is still ongoing
• Many local, regional and sectoral initiatives
– ‘Happiness budget’ (Almelo, Netherlands)
– Jacksonville Community Indicators (Florida, US)
– ‘Five ways of well-being’

11. Well-being evaluation improves policy
• National-level implementation is advancing
– Bhutan, UK, Italy, New Zealand…
• Beyond GDP and well-being policies help to
evaluate various policy options
• ‘Well-being return on investment’

12. Fulfill the promise of well-being policy
• Inequality-adjusted growth as policy target
• Growth vs resource efficiency
• (Mental) health and happiness education
• Monitor and benchmark OECD performance

13. Persuade in the political debate
• Need for a mainstream political debate
• Communication challenge
• ‘Run on happiness’

15. My happiness at work matters to me
• Personal level
– More motivated and productive
– Happier at home
– Better equipped to deal with stress
• Autonomy, mastery, purpose

16. My happiness at work matters to you!
• Organisation/administration level
– Higher productivity in happier teams
– Less sick leave and accidents at work
– Higher staff retention

17. Steering for happiness is possible
• Happiness at work surveys
– Measure and improve working conditions
• Only happy staff can make happy citizens

18. Your keys to fulfill the promise
• Well-being policy can’t be a silo
Integrate measurements across policy areas
• Well-being is a political issue
Policy must be communicated to citizens
• It starts with happiness at work
Only happy staff can make citizens happy

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