This presentation poses the question as to whether happiness can be a realistic and achievable goal for rural policy. Importantly, it discusses the benefits of using happiness as a driver of policy, and how this could replace the economic growth paradigm which dominates rural policy making.

1. H A P P I N E S S - A G O A L
F O R R U R A L P O L I C Y ?
Paul Courtney
Professor of Social Economy
CCRI

2. H A P P I N E S S
….as a driver of policy
Definition
Measurement
Implementation

3. H A P P I N E S S
….as a driver of policy
1. Rural policy
is too
focussed on
growth
2. Growth is
causing
unhappiness and
inequality
3. Barriers to
focusing rural
policy around
Happiness can be
overcome
Definition
Measurement
Implementation

4. Q: Should a government’s prime objective be
achieving the greatest happiness for its
people, as opposed to the greatest wealth?
A: Yes 80%, No 20%
..a representative sample of Britons, 2005

5. In Dorset, Cornwall and Cumbria, a third of
people rated their life satisfaction between 9
and 10
A quarter of Londoners reported having high
levels of anxiety
England, 2013

6. A Rural Life…
¬ Hidden deprivation is significant
¬ Farmers account for the largest numbers of suicides
¬Loneliness is a growing problem in rural areas
¬Voluntary sector is under strain
¬ Many Young people are not in education, training or employment

7. R U R A L S T A T E M E N T 2 0 1 2
D E F R A
‘We have made economic growth our top priority
Rural Development Programme 2014-20 socio-
economic measures
• Rural and investment Programme - Business Growth
• LEADER - Jobs and Growth
• Countryside Productivity- Farming and Forestry

8. T H E T R O U B L E W I T H G R O W T H
Values -
Growth is not in the interests of social and
environmental sustainability
Psychology -
Growth is not making us any happier because of
our deep rooted psychology
Inequality -
Growth is causing increasing inequality,
exacerbated through leverage and QE programmes

9. G D P V S H A P P I N E S S
Source: Gustave Speth (2008)

10. W H A T M A K E S U S H A P P Y ?
Family Relationships
Family Income
Secure Job
Community and Trust
Feeling Healthy
Personal Freedom
Belief in God
Source: Layard (2009)

11. From breathing clean air..
…to getting our five a day

12. P L E A S U R E A N D P U R P O S E
Ave. Pleasure
Ave. Purpose
• Volunteering
• Housework
• Time with kids
Source: Dolan (2014)
• Commuting
• Eating
• Working

13. L O C A L F O O D P R O G R A M M E :
W H E R E I S T H E V A L U E ?
0
10
20
30
40
Food
affordability
Education
& Skills
Community
vibrancy
Phyiscal
Health
Subjective
Well being
Local
Economy
Food affordability 2%
Training and education 8%
Community Vibrancy 26%
Physical health 24%
Mental health and well being 38%
Local economy and enterprise 2%

14. HAPPINESS STRICTLY PROHIBITED
Overcoming the barriers..

15. D E F I N I T I O N
Economics (Evaluating self) -
- Subjective Well being:
Evaluative Accounts - How we think and feel
Psychology (Experiencing self) -
SWB - Moods or feelings of joy/elation
Life Satisfaction - Qualities/circumstances of life
Absence of anxiety and depression - Prerequisite

16. M E A S U R E M E N T
E V A L U A T I N G -
S E L F
E X P E R I E N C I N G -
S E L F
P O L I C Y
E V A L U A T I O N
E V A L U A T I O N S O F
H O W W E W A N T O U R
L I F E T O B E , O R W H A T
W E T H I N K M A K E S U S
H A P P Y
P O L I C Y D E S I G N
E T H N O G R A P H I C
E X P L O R A T O R Y
T R I A N G U L A T I O N
D A Y
R E C O N S T R U C T I O N
M E T H O D ( D R M ) W I T H
P L E A S U R E / P U R P O S E

17. I M P L E M E N T A T I O N
M E N T A L
H E A L T H
C O M M U N I T Y
I N C O M E A N D
W O R K
G O V E R N A
O N A P A R W I T H
P H Y S I C A L
H E A L T H
P R O M O T E
V O L U N T E E R I N G
P R O M O T E
E C O N O M I C
G R O W T H
E M P O W E R M E
R E S P E C
S U P P O R T
P A R E N T S
A D D R E S S
L O N E L I N E S S
R E D U C E
U N E M P L O Y M E N T
S U P P O R
H A P P I N E S
R E S E A R C
B U I L D
R E S I L I E N C E I N
S C H O O L S
S O C I A B L E &
G R E E N
E N V I R O N M E N T S
W E L L - B E I N G A T
W O R K
S H A R E T H E D
Source: O’Donnell et al (2014)

18. H A P P I N E S S -
A G O A L F O R R U R A L P O L I C Y
Thanks for listening
pcourtney@glos.ac.uk
www.ccri.ac.uk