Papers by John F Helliwell
Chapter 7 The Desirability of Well-Being as a Guide for Policy
Oxford University Press eBooks, Apr 30, 2009
Several conceptual concerns about using well-being measures to inform policy have been enunciated... more Several conceptual concerns about using well-being measures to inform policy have been enunciated, and are discussed in this chapter. It is shown that well-being does not reflect a shallow form of hedonism, but instead reflects a desirable state that helps societies function more effectively. A related objection is that immoral behaviors that society cannot condone might sometimes lead to feelings of well-being. One answer to many of these objections is that both objective and subjective measures will be used in concert; that is, subjective measures will not replace the objective ones. This recognition undercuts many of the objections that have been raised. Some believe that policy makers might manipulate well-being, or, conversely, that citizens might alter their well-being responses to influence policy, and these critiques are discussed. Another issue is which types of well-being measures should be used, and it is argued that surveys should assess a number of different types of well-being.
Chapter 10 Work, the Economy, and Well-Being: Policy Examples
Oxford University Press eBooks, Apr 30, 2009
Well-being has important influences on work life and the economy, which in turn have a large infl... more Well-being has important influences on work life and the economy, which in turn have a large influence on people’s well-being. In this chapter several policy issues on which well-being findings shed light are presented. For example, the debilitating effects of unemployment on well-being are reviewed, and this is important as many economic models assume that people elect unemployment as the best way of maximizing their well-being given their current situation. The fact that unemployment has such a substantial impact on well-being indicates that minimizing it should be a policy imperative, although other considerations such as economic growth will also help shape policies in this area. Other issues that are discussed are the influence of worker satisfaction on job performance, the influence of risk sharing such as insurance on the ill-being resulting from natural disasters, and how graduated income taxes can affect the mean levels of well-being in societies.
Chapter 1 Using Well-Being to Inform Public Policy
Oxford University Press eBooks, Apr 30, 2009
This chapter introduces the idea that measures of well-being provide information that can be usef... more This chapter introduces the idea that measures of well-being provide information that can be useful to policy makers in enhancing quality of life by creating more astute policies and regulations. The themes of the chapters in the book, including the shortcomings of existing measures and how surveys of well-being can complement these limitations, are introduced. The chapters provide insights into why well-being measures are needed, and answer common objections to the measures. Policy issue examples are described, and the nature of the surveys that are needed is outlined.
Chapter 5 The Well-Being Measures Are Valid
Oxford University Press eBooks, Apr 30, 2009
A frequent concern about measures of well-being is that because they are subjective, they are unr... more A frequent concern about measures of well-being is that because they are subjective, they are unreliable and are subject to many types of artifacts and errors. The evidence for the validity and reliability of these measures is reviewed in this chapter, and the nature of measurement errors is discussed. The surveys of well-being are shown to be valid in predicting important outcomes such as suicide, and in correlating with other types of measures in a systematic way. Reports of well-being by respondents correlate with other types of measures such as biological assays and reports by knowledgeable informants. Although some measurement artifacts have been shown to influence the surveys of well-being, these often are not large, and the validity of the reports persists despite the measurement problems.
Chapter 2 Defining Well-Being
Oxford University Press eBooks, Apr 30, 2009
This chapter reviews the various definitions of well-being, and their advantages and disadvantage... more This chapter reviews the various definitions of well-being, and their advantages and disadvantages. Well-being is defined as an overall evaluation that an individual makes of his or her life in all its important aspects, and is often called “subjective well-being.” This definition is contrasted with objective evaluations, which require judgments that are independent of an individual’s values and desires. The definition of well-being advanced in this book is based on an individual’s own interests, needs, preferences, and desires, and is therefore similar to the concept of “utility” in economics. The well-being indicators advocated here include both people’s judgments of their lives and their emotions and moods. The differences in preference realization reflected in economic indicators and subjective reports of well-being are described, and the advantages and disadvantages of each are reviewed.
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Papers by John F Helliwell