Measuring Wellbeing: Towards Sustainability?

Synopsis

Improving wellbeing and sustainability are central goals of government, but are they in conflict? This engaging new book reviews that question and its implications for public policy through a focus on indicators. It highlights tensions on the one hand between various constructs of wellbeing and sustainable development, and on the other between current individual and societal notions of wellbeing. It recommends a clearer conceptual framework for policy makers regarding different wellbeing constructs which would facilitate more transparent discussions. Arguing against a win-win scenario of wellbeing and sustainability, it advocates an approach based on recognising and valuing conflicting views where notions of participation and power are central to discussions. Measuring Wellbeing is divided into two 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 measuring ‘happiness’. This accessible and informative book, covering uniquely both practice and theory, will be of great appeal to students, academics and policy makers interested in wellbeing, sustainable development, indicators, public policy, community participation, power and discourse.

Copyright:

2012

Book Details

Book Quality:

Publisher Quality

Book Size:

212 Pages

ISBN-13:

9781136287541

Related ISBNs:

9781849714631, 9780203113622, 9781849714624

Publisher:

Taylor and Francis

Date of Addition:

08/25/22

Copyrighted By:

Karen Scott

Adult content:

No

Language:

English

Has Image Descriptions:

No

Categories:

Nonfiction, Science, Social Studies

Submitted By:

Bookshare Staff

Usage Restrictions:

This is a copyrighted book.