Eight Happiness and social policy: barking up the right tree in the wrong neck of the woods
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Tania Burchardt
Abstract
This chapter asks whether happiness is a useful way to conceptualise well-being, and whether its promotion is an appropriate goal for social policy. It draws on a review of literature from a number of disciplines. It introduces the ‘economics of happiness’ and describes indicators commonly used to measure subjective well-being (SWB) and their policy implications, suggesting that policy should re-examine some areas or topics that have traditionally been given little attention. It reflects on the evidence and concludes that promoting SWB or happiness as an explicit policy objective would be mistaken. It argues that happiness as a policy goal is probably inadequate if consideration is given to how opportunities or resources should be distributed in society, particularly if the concern is to examine the role of policy in addressing various forms of inequality.
Abstract
This chapter asks whether happiness is a useful way to conceptualise well-being, and whether its promotion is an appropriate goal for social policy. It draws on a review of literature from a number of disciplines. It introduces the ‘economics of happiness’ and describes indicators commonly used to measure subjective well-being (SWB) and their policy implications, suggesting that policy should re-examine some areas or topics that have traditionally been given little attention. It reflects on the evidence and concludes that promoting SWB or happiness as an explicit policy objective would be mistaken. It argues that happiness as a policy goal is probably inadequate if consideration is given to how opportunities or resources should be distributed in society, particularly if the concern is to examine the role of policy in addressing various forms of inequality.
Chapters in this book
- Front Matter i
- Contents iii
- List of figures and tables v
- List of contributors vi
- Introduction 1
-
Key areas of social policy
- Personal social services: developments in adult social care 15
- Creating a patient-led NHS: empowering ‘consumers’ or shrinking the state? 33
- A ‘pivotal moment’? Education policy in England, 2005 49
- Strategic pragmatism? The state of British housing policy 65
- Social security policies in 2005 83
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Health and well-being
- More than a matter of choice? Consumerism and the modernisation of health care 101
- Being well and well-being: the value of community and professional concepts in understanding positive health 121
- Happiness and social policy: barking up the right tree in the wrong neck of the woods 145
- Using health and subjective wellbeing for quality of life measurement: a review 165
- Community well-being strategy and the legacies of new institutionalism and New Public Management in third way New Zealand 193
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Ageing and employment
- Extending working life: problems and prospects for social and public policy 221
- Age discrimination in history 249
- Training and learning in the workplace: can we legislate against age discriminatory practices? 269
- Ageing and employment: looking back, looking forward 293
- Index 313
Chapters in this book
- Front Matter i
- Contents iii
- List of figures and tables v
- List of contributors vi
- Introduction 1
-
Key areas of social policy
- Personal social services: developments in adult social care 15
- Creating a patient-led NHS: empowering ‘consumers’ or shrinking the state? 33
- A ‘pivotal moment’? Education policy in England, 2005 49
- Strategic pragmatism? The state of British housing policy 65
- Social security policies in 2005 83
-
Health and well-being
- More than a matter of choice? Consumerism and the modernisation of health care 101
- Being well and well-being: the value of community and professional concepts in understanding positive health 121
- Happiness and social policy: barking up the right tree in the wrong neck of the woods 145
- Using health and subjective wellbeing for quality of life measurement: a review 165
- Community well-being strategy and the legacies of new institutionalism and New Public Management in third way New Zealand 193
-
Ageing and employment
- Extending working life: problems and prospects for social and public policy 221
- Age discrimination in history 249
- Training and learning in the workplace: can we legislate against age discriminatory practices? 269
- Ageing and employment: looking back, looking forward 293
- Index 313
