Measuring Happiness to Guide Public Policy Making: A Survey of Instruments and Policy Initiatives

This author examines subjective indicators of well-being as they relate to the happiness movement, a global effort to create a new economic paradigm. The essay focuses on the prominent international institutions that are developing happiness metrics as well as agencies exploring the use of happiness data for crafting supportive public policy. A definition of happiness metrics, based on international institutions, identifies the primary questions that compose perceived happiness and how this data can be used

Happiness In Public Policy

The happiness movement represents a new paradigm where social, economic, and environmental systems are structured to encourage human well-being in a sustainable environment. Bhutan has adopted Gross National Happiness (GNH) as a way of determining its society’s success in contrast to purely economic goals and the singular use of the gross domestic product indicator. Bhutanese policy promulgation includes use of a GNH screening tool. In the United Kingdom, happiness indicators are being used to collect data and the government is starting to explore their application to policy. The Bhutanese GNH policy screening tool has been adapted for the grassroots activists, providing opportunities for everyone to participate in the happiness movement

Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness: Measuring What Matters

This essay focuses on ways in which the governments of Bhutan and the United Kingdom are measuring subjective well-being as well as on how other governments including Norway, Spain, China, Canada, and New Zealand, are exploring the development of subjective well-being indicators. It concludes with recommended actions to aid in the formation of a consistent and comparable subjective well-being indicator for use by governments globally. The third in a series for which the purpose is to provide information to grassroots activists to foster the happiness movement for a new economic paradigm, this essay builds on the previous essays, Happiness in Public Policy and Measuring Happiness to Guide Public Policy: A Survey of Instruments and Policy Initiatives

eHealth and mHealth Interventions for Ethnic Minority and Historically Underserved Populations in Developed Countries: an Umbrella Review

Health disparities among historically disadvantaged populations can undermine the effectiveness of eHealth and mHealth interventions and limit their acceptability among diverse community members. The twin aims of this umbrella review of systematic reviews (SRs) are to summarise the evidence on the characteristics and effectiveness of eHealth and mHealth interventions among underserved populations in developed counties and provide recommendations to community organizers, policy makers and researchers. Comprehensive searches were conducted in bibliographic databases, Google Scholar and references lists for SRs published in English between 2000 and 2019. SRs were selected following a protocol registered with PROSPERO. Two independent reviewers were involved in the selection appraisal process, quality assessment and data extraction process. Six SRs met the inclusion criteria for this umbrella review. The six SRs concerned interventions delivered by computer programmes, cell-phones or other electronic devices. The studies in the SRs reported improvements to physiological well-being, health knowledge and self-management, as well as improvements in psychosocial outcomes. This umbrella review concludes with recommendations for community organizers, policy makers and researches for the formation of guidelines, inclusion of target community members in the development of eHealth interventions and directions for future research

Happiness in Communities: How Neighborhoods, Cities and States Use Subjective Well-Being Metrics

This essay, the fourth and last of a series published by the Journal of Social Change, is intended as a tool for community organizers, local policy makers, researchers, students and others to incorporate subjective well-being indicators into their measurements and management of happiness and well-being in their communities, for policy purposes, for research and for other purposes. It provides case studies of community-based efforts in five different regions (São Paulo, Brazil; Bristol, United Kingdom; Melbourne, Australia; Creston, British Columbia, Canada; and Vermont, United States) that either developed their own subjective well-being index or used the Happiness Alliance’s survey instrument to measure happiness and well-being. The essay offers lessons to consider when using subjective well-being indicator survey instruments. Finally, the essay provides a process for measuring happiness using the Happiness Alliance’s survey instrument

Happiness Index Methodology

The Happiness Index is a comprehensive survey instrument that assesses happiness, well-being, and aspects of sustainability and resilience. The Happiness Alliance developed the Happiness Index to provide a survey instrument to community organizers, researchers, and others seeking to use a subjective well-being index and data. It is the only instrument of its kind freely available worldwide and translated into over ten languages. This instrument can be used to measure satisfaction with life and the conditions of life. It can also be used to define income inequality, trust in government, sense of community and other aspects of well-being within specific demographics of a population. This manuscript documents the development the Happiness Index between 2011 and 2015, and includes suggestions for implementation