Index

I think there is too much lampooning of the idea of an index of happiness. The search for other ways of considering and measuring sustainability than simple economic drivers is really interesting.

It certainly offers new and powerful arguments about the overall value of rural places to well-being. I think we should take it more seriously and as this article explains we now have a new charity to help us with the process:

“The findings, from a survey of 3,000 adults over the past three months, were presented yesterday at a meeting to discuss how data on well-being could be used to change policy and create a happier and more productive society.

“The session coincided with the launch of Action for Happiness, a charity aiming to encourage a mass movement of people pursuing a better way of life, which was addressed by the happiness guru Lord Richard Layard, of the London School of Economics, Anthony Seldon, master of Wellington College, and Geoff Mulgan, director of the Young Foundation.”