Britain's PM David Cameron has spent 2 million pounds in a project to measure wellbeing and happiness in the UK.
Today Isabel Oakeshott writes in the Sunday Times
"The report which is due to be released to coincide with "Blue-Monday" tomorrow, has concluded that David Cameron’s strategy of measuring and explicitly promoting happiness over other objectives is a waste of time.
Drawing from an array of data from 126 countries, the 250-page report by the free-market think tank the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) finds that the most important indicator of happiness is wealth, and says the government should forget general wellbeing and concentrate on boosting Britain’s flatlining GDP".
Hum,interestingly enough researchers from the University of Warwick, highlighted how relatively ineffective extra income is at raising well-being. The researchers further drew on two striking pieces of independent evidence to illustrate their point – over the last 50 years developed countries have not seen any increases to national happiness in spite of huge economic gains. Mental health on the other hand appears to be deteriorating worldwide. The researchers argue that resources should be directed towards the things that have the best chance of improving the health and happiness of our nations – investment in mental health care by increasing the access and availability of psychological therapy could be a more effective way of improving national well-being than the pursuit of income growth.
There is a very interesting interview in the Monitor with University of California, Riverside, psychologist Howard S. Friedman, PhD, co-author with Leslie Martin, PhD, of the 2011 book “The Longevity Project.”
This is a relevant and timely interview as many of us look forward to a new year, and resolve to do things differently with some aspect or other in our lives.
Eating vegetables and going to the gym are not as important to our long-term health as having a rich, productive life. ~ Howard S. Friedman, PhD
We all know lots of things that are health-promoting — stop substance abuse, stay active, eat right, sleep well, don’t gain weight, make friends — so why aren’t most people healthy?
Instead, Friedman advises:
“Throw away your lists” because our studies suggest that it is a society with more conscientious and goal-oriented citizens, well-integrated into their communities, that is likely to be important to health and long life. These changes involve slow, step-by-step alterations that unfold across many years. But so does health. For example, connecting with and helping others is more important than obsessing over a rigorous exercise program.
Britain's PM David Cameron has spent 2 million pounds in a project to measure wellbeing and happiness in the UK.
