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Emotional Prosperity and the Stiglitz Commission

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  • Andrew J. Oswald

Abstract

This article argues — in line with the proposals of the recent Stiglitz Commission on the Measurement of Economic Performance and Social Progress — that we should now be measuring a nation's emotional prosperity rather than its economic prosperity (i.e. we ought to focus on the level of mental well‐being, not on the number of pounds in people's bank accounts). The article reviews recent ideas in this field. It also describes seven recent studies that, worryingly, suggest that emotional prosperity may be declining through time. For labour‐market specialists, a key question for future research is how much this downward trend can be traced back to increased pressures in working life. That question currently remains open.

Suggested Citation

  • Andrew J. Oswald, 2010. "Emotional Prosperity and the Stiglitz Commission," British Journal of Industrial Relations, London School of Economics, vol. 48(4), pages 651-669, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:brjirl:v:48:y:2010:i:4:p:651-669
    DOI: 10.1111/j.1467-8543.2010.00818.x
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    Blog mentions

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    1. Happiness policy
      by chris dillow in Stumbling and Mumbling on 2010-11-15 23:02:09
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    3. Cakes, capitalism & happiness
      by chris dillow in Stumbling and Mumbling on 2011-12-21 21:00:28

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    3. Pugno, Maurizio, 2013. "Scitovsky and the income-happiness paradox," Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Economics (formerly The Journal of Socio-Economics), Elsevier, vol. 43(C), pages 1-10.
    4. Monica Violeta Achim & Sorin Nicolae Borlea & Codruţa Mare, 2018. "Geocentric Behavior Dimension of the Organization’ Performance in the Context of Globalization," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 135(1), pages 401-420, January.
    5. Melanie K. Jones, 2016. "Disability and Perceptions of Work and Management," British Journal of Industrial Relations, London School of Economics, vol. 54(1), pages 83-113, March.
    6. G. Madonia & M. Cracolici & M. Cuffaro, 2013. "Exploring Wider Well-Being in the EU-15 Countries: An Empirical Application of the Stiglitz Report," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 111(1), pages 117-140, March.
    7. Petri Böckerman & Edvard Johansson & Samuli Saarni & Suoma Saarni, 2014. "The Negative Association of Obesity with Subjective Well-Being: Is it All About Health?," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 15(4), pages 857-867, August.
    8. David Marsden, 2021. "Patterns of organizational ownership and employee well‐being in Britain," British Journal of Industrial Relations, London School of Economics, vol. 59(4), pages 988-1019, December.
    9. Böckerman, Petri & Bryson, Alex & Ilmakunnas, Pekka, 2012. "Does high involvement management improve worker wellbeing?," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 84(2), pages 660-680.
    10. Saul Estrin, 2021. "Introduction to symposium on the impact of employee influence," British Journal of Industrial Relations, London School of Economics, vol. 59(4), pages 982-987, December.
    11. Charles Kenny, 2011. "Bentham from the Crypt Once More: Politicians in Pursuit of Happiness," Working Papers id:4332, eSocialSciences.
    12. Mujcic, Redzo, 2014. "Are fruit and vegetables good for our mental and physical health? Panel data evidence from Australia," MPRA Paper 59149, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    13. David G. Blanchflower & Andrew J. Oswald, 2011. "International Happiness," NBER Working Papers 16668, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    14. Böckerman, Petri & Ilmakunnas, Pekka, 2017. "Do Good Working Conditions Make You Work Longer? Evidence on Retirement Decisions Using Linked Survey and Register Data," IZA Discussion Papers 10964, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    15. Haile, Getinet Astatike, 2016. "Workplace Disability: Whose Wellbeing Does It Affect?," IZA Discussion Papers 10102, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
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    17. Böckerman, Petri & Ilmakunnas, Pekka, 2020. "Do good working conditions make you work longer? Analyzing retirement decisions using linked survey and register data," The Journal of the Economics of Ageing, Elsevier, vol. 17(C).
    18. D.P. Doessel & Ruth F.G. Williams, 2012. "The New Welfare Measures," Working Papers 2012.07, School of Economics, La Trobe University.
    19. Eduardo Bericat, 2014. "The Socioemotional Well-Being Index (SEWBI): Theoretical Framework and Empirical Operationalisation," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 119(2), pages 599-626, November.
    20. Estrin, Saul, 2021. "Introduction to symposium on the impact of employee influence," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 110516, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    21. Dräger, Vanessa, 2015. "Do Employment Protection Reforms Affect Well-Being?," IZA Discussion Papers 9114, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    22. Heinz Welsch & Jan Kühling, 2011. "Comparative Economic Performance and Institutional Change in OECD Countries: Evidence from Subjective Well-Being Data," Working Papers V-342-11, University of Oldenburg, Department of Economics, revised Dec 2011.
    23. Franz Buscha, 2016. "Does Daily Sunshine Make You Happy? Subjective Measures of Well-Being and the Weather," Manchester School, University of Manchester, vol. 84(5), pages 642-663, September.

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • I1 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health
    • I3 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty

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