What we know of well-being in contemporary society? This presentation was given by Aleksi Neuvonen in September 2012 in Joensuus in a conference Future of Regional Well-being. It explores different policy options that could increase well-being in current developed, industrialized societies.

1. Paradigm of Well-being in the
Age of Turbulence; the politics of
happiness
Future of Regional Well-being
September 11th 2012
Aleksi Neuvonen
Demos Helsinki
www.demos.fi
aleksi.neuvonen@demos.fi
Twitter: @leksis

4. Experienced well-being x Life
expectancy
Ecological footprint

6. Happiness is not only matter of wealth.

7. Happiness is not only matter of wealth.
There are ways of measuring happiness.

8. Happiness is not only matter of wealth.
There are ways of measuring happiness.
Discussion on happiness could help us to
re-focus the discussion on future of
society.

9. http://demos.fi/files/politics_of_happiness.pdf

10. http://demos.fi/files/The_Well-Being_of_the_Metropolis.pdf

11. Well-being: what we know
of the past?

12. Prosperity disengages experienced
well-being from material needs.
Beyond a point increased wealth
doesn’t necessarily result increased
happiness.

13. Is the Easterlin paradox true?
Or does it merely reflect the shortcomings
of the US system?

14. Juho Saari: Onnellisuuspolitiikka. Kohti sosiaalisesti kestävää Suomea.
Kalevi Sorsa -säätiö, 2012.

15. Juho Saari: Onnellisuuspolitiikka. Kohti sosiaalisesti kestävää Suomea.
Kalevi Sorsa -säätiö, 2012.

16. Discussion is moving towards
emhasizing experienced well-being
Juho Saari: Onnellisuuspolitiikka. Kohti sosiaalisesti kestävää Suomea.
Kalevi Sorsa -säätiö, 2012.

17. Discussion is moving towards
emhasizing experienced well-being
There are significant disparities between
nations in population’s level of
experienced well-being that cannot be
attributed to genetics or culture.
Juho Saari: Onnellisuuspolitiikka. Kohti sosiaalisesti kestävää Suomea.
Kalevi Sorsa -säätiö, 2012.

18. Discussion is moving towards
emhasizing experienced well-being
There are significant disparities between
nations in population’s level of
experienced well-being that cannot be
attributed to genetics or culture.
Both individual’s own improved social status and general
improvements in general level of equality in society improved
experienced well-being.
Juho Saari: Onnellisuuspolitiikka. Kohti sosiaalisesti kestävää Suomea.
Kalevi Sorsa -säätiö, 2012.

19. Discussion is moving towards
emhasizing experienced well-being
There are significant disparities between
nations in population’s level of
experienced well-being that cannot be
attributed to genetics or culture.
Both individual’s own improved social status and general
improvements in general level of equality in society improved
experienced well-being.
Historical periods of growth make people feel themselves more well-
being than at the times of downturns. Hence, increased wealth does
improve well-being, at least to certain extent.
Juho Saari: Onnellisuuspolitiikka. Kohti sosiaalisesti kestävää Suomea.
Kalevi Sorsa -säätiö, 2012.

20. Discussion is moving towards
emhasizing experienced well-being
There are significant disparities between
nations in population’s level of
experienced well-being that cannot be
attributed to genetics or culture.
Both individual’s own improved social status and general
improvements in general level of equality in society improved
experienced well-being.
Historical periods of growth make people feel themselves more well-
being than at the times of downturns. Hence, increased wealth does
improve well-being, at least to certain extent.
In prosperous societies wealth doesn’t contribute to experienced
well-being as much as other factors. Yet high level of well-being
seems to require sufficient level of prosperity.
Juho Saari: Onnellisuuspolitiikka. Kohti sosiaalisesti kestävää Suomea.
Kalevi Sorsa -säätiö, 2012.

21. But:

22. But:
The more wealth, the less efficient growth and
prosperity are in improving well-being.

23. But:
The more wealth, the less efficient growth and
prosperity are in improving well-being.
”Hedonic treadmill”: We get bored, we compare,
we tend to sacrifice other things to works.
Therefore growth often misses its potential for
increasing well-being.

24. But:
The more wealth, the less efficient growth and
prosperity are in improving well-being.
”Hedonic treadmill”: We get bored, we compare,
we tend to sacrifice other things to works.
Therefore growth often misses its potential for
increasing well-being.
Do we have means to create
growth without well-being
hampering inequalities and
competition?

25. Well-being: the uncertain future

26. We don’t have any warrant, that...
there would sufficient conditions for
economic growth in industrialised
countries.

27. We don’t have any warrant, that...
growth would spread wealth and
employment.

28. We don’t have any warrant, that...
growth would spread wealth and
employment.

29. We don’t have any warrant, that...
growth would spread wealth and
employment.

30. We don’t have any warrant, that...
growth would be in any terms sustainable.

31. We don’t have any warrant, that...
growth would create more positive than negative
impacts on well-being.

32. http://www.eva.fi/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/Maailman-paras-maa.pdf

33. We don’t have any warrant, that...
we could stop the system of growth without resulting
a crisis
...or that we would have any alternative models for
well-being.

34. But still:

35. But still:
Knowledge bases on well-being and its conditions
is better than ever.
Hence, we are also better aware of problems
resulting from historical model of economic
growth.
Policy options for improving well-being are fuzier
than in the 20th century.

36. But still:
Knowledge bases on well-being and its conditions
is better than ever.
Hence, we are also better aware of problems
resulting from historical model of economic
growth.
Policy options for improving well-being are fuzier
than in the 20th century.
prosperity individualism
longer life expectancy
globalised culture
choice

38. Towards resilient well-being: We should at least
consider and test growth-independent measures
for well-being.

39. Well-being: the alternatives

40. Scarcely
Highly political
political
subjects
subjects
Taxation of happiness
Feasibility low Religion, sex harming activities
New politics of
Feasibility high Lonelines, bullying happiness, social
sustainability
Juho Saari: Onnellisuuspolitiikka. Kohti sosiaalisesti kestävää kehitystä.

41. Public investments in
mental health and
prevention of mental
illnesses

42. Diverse opportunities for
meaningful activities and
self-actualisation.

43. Improved workplace
satisfacation

45. Rich urban fabric and high
quality of built
environments.

47. Preventive healthcare first

48. More engaging public
services, more focus on
self-determination.

49. More engaging public
services, more focus on
self-determination.

50. Spirit of the progress