Measuring wellbeing
Subtitle: towards sustainability?
By: Karen Scott
Publisher: Routledge
Published: 2012
Place of publication: New York
Language: eng
Number of pages: 210
ISBN-13: 9781849714624; 9781849714631
Subjects: SOCIAL SCIENCE / General; Sustainable development; Social indicators; SCIENCE / Environmental Science; Quality of life; Well-being
Description: "Improving wellbeing and sustainability are central goals of government, but are they in conflict? This book reviews that question and its implications for public policy through a focus on indicators. It highlights tensions between various constructs of wellbeing and sustainable development, and between current individual and societal notions of wellbeing. Recommending a clearer conceptual framework for policy makers regarding different wellbeing constructs which would facilitate more transparent discussions; it argues against a win-win scenario of wellbeing and sustainability but advocates a power sensitive trade off approach based on debating values. Measuring Wellbeing is divided into two clear parts; the first part provides a critical review of the field, drawing widely on international research but contextualised within recent UK wellbeing policy discourses. The second part embeds the theory in a case study based on the author's own experience of trying to develop quality of life indicators within a local authority, against the backdrop of increasing national policy interest in "happiness".This book will help shape debates in newly developing wellbeing policy arenas. Through a consideration of discourse, politics and power, it addresses the disciplinary gaps in current wellbeing policy debate. This accessible and informative book will appeal to students, academics and policy makers interested in wellbeing, sustainable development, indicators, public policy, participation, localism, community, power and discourse. "--

"Improving wellbeing and sustainability are central goals of government, but are they in conflict? This book reviews that question and its implications for public policy through a focus on indicators. It highlights tensions between various constructs of wellbeing and sustainable development, and between current individual and societal notions of wellbeing. Recommending a clearer conceptual framework for policy makers regarding different wellbeing constructs which would facilitate more transparent discussions, it argues against a win-win scenario of wellbeing and sustainability but advocates a power sensitive trade off approach based on debating values. Measuring Wellbeing is divided into two clear parts; the first part provides a critical review of the field, drawing widely on international research but contextualised within recent UK wellbeing policy discourses. The second part embeds the theory in a case study based on the author's own experience of trying to develop quality of life indicators within a local authority, against the backdrop of increasing national policy interest in 'happiness'. This book will help shape debates in newly developing wellbeing policy arenas. Through a consideration of discourse, politics and power, it addresses the disciplinary gaps in current wellbeing policy debate. This accessible and informative book will appeal to students, academics and policy makers interested in wellbeing, sustainable development, indicators, public policy, participation, localism, community, power and discourse"--
Notes: Includes bibliographical references and index.