New report makes the economic case for wellbeing initiatives

Arts Council England (ACE) has published an evaluation review that looks at how wellbeing measures have been integrated into UK policymaking over the past decade, identifies key barriers to wider uptake, and suggests ways public bodies could increase their use to improve people’s lives. 

The Subjective Wellbeing Evidence Review explains that subjective wellbeing data (referred to as SWB in the report) is broadly defined as individuals’ self-reported assessments of their own lives, including happiness, life satisfaction, and sense of purpose.

Its relevance in government policymaking has evolved from “a supplement to traditional economic indicators into a more integrated tool for evaluating and shaping public policy”, the report says.

“Despite the progress documented in this report of integrating SWB into policy over the past 10 years, there is clearly still more work to be done and we (and many of the interviewees) feel that the underuse of SWB evidence in policy decisions signals a missed opportunity in policy making,” the authors note in their introduction.

The free review includes sections on the relevant of SWB for heritage and culture, including a 2019 study from What Works Centre for Wellbeing that found that engaging with heritage can enhance personal wellbeing by boosting confidence, social connections, and life satisfaction.

“Wellbeing in many ways is shown to be an enabler of growth – people who feel good about themselves and positive about their lives and their communities tend to be more productive and more creative at work,” arts council chief executive Darren Henley says in his introduction to the report.

“We have commissioned this report to amplify the potential of wellbeing measures as a pillar of modern economic policy. We will continue to champion the vital role of culture and creativity in increasing our nation’s wellbeing, and our door is open for collaboration and further conversations about how this contribution translates to growth in our country.”

The Subjective Wellbeing Evidence Review is authored by Daniel Fujiwara, senior advisor at Kreab Spain and assisted in the authorship of the Green Book and the creation of the UK WELLBY guidelines; Paul Dolan, a professor of behavioural science at the London School of Economics and Political Science; Nancy Hey, the former executive director of the What Works Centre for Wellbeing; and Vidhyarth Natarajan, an economist at Alma Economics.