What Works Centre for Wellbeing - Cross-cutting strand
Lead Research Organisation:
London School of Economics and Political Science
Department Name: Centre for Economic Performance
Abstract
Our aim is to enable policy-makers at all levels to target their decisions at improving the subjective wellbeing of their client group. The decision-makers we have in mind include those in central and local government, the NHS, schools, third sector organisations and private businesses. We shall do this partly through face-to-face interaction and partly through written analysis of evidence and new methods of policy evaluation.
Initial consultation
During the development phase, our first step will be a large, open event in October to which users are invited as well as members of other WWCW strands. We shall invite participants to say what they would hope for from us and we in turn will outline our proposed approach for comment. This 2-way flow will continue throughout the programme, on our website and face to face, with policy-makers raising important research issues and researchers responding.
Interaction with users
We propose five types of face-to-face interaction, all video recorded and made available online. The first is a series of one-day courses for users in different parts of Britain, covering all the main issues. The second is a weekly seminar in which (at alternate sessions) users are invited to present their problems and receive advice and support on their analyses. Third, we shall run four half-day workshops on the analysis and evaluation of longitudinal data and, fourth, three one-day courses on economic evaluation. Finally there will be a major 2-day conference co-organised with the OECD, at which we will present our manual on "wellbeing for policy-makers" - see below.
Synthesis of evidence and methods of evaluation
For policy-makers to aim at subjective wellbeing they need, first, an organised body of knowledge which tells them in a user-friendly way how different factors affect wellbeing. All effects have to be measured in a common currency which measures subjective wellbeing. At present such evidence using a common currency is scarce, but Britain is rich in cohort data which make it possible to look at the effect of all factors simultaneously using a common currency. We shall exploit these data, as well as synthesizing all the existing evidence.
Second policy-makers need a framework for analysing their own policy options, by using the above evidence plus the results of experiments, in order to identify their most cost-effective options. We shall therefore develop a new, alternative Green Book to that now used in the Treasury (where money is the measure of benefit) and we are discussing this with the Treasury. To illustrate the power of this approach we shall then apply it to new or ongoing experimental interventions in schools, home-visiting, adult personal development, the provision of NHS psychological therapy, and the prevention of loneliness in old age.
All this work will be put together in the manual on "wellbeing for policy-makers" which we shall present at the conference co-organised with the OECD, as our contribution to the work of the OECD Consortium of model-builders of wellbeing, for which we have been selected as the British component.
We believe passionately that a shift in the focus of decision-making is possible and that new evidence and frameworks of analysis exist which make this possible. The cross-cutting strand can provide invaluable leadership in this change, by providing an outstanding manual on evidence and decision analysis and by ongoing two-way interaction between researchers and decision-makers. This will surely lead to higher levels of wellbeing throughout our society.
More details are given in the Case for Support.
Initial consultation
During the development phase, our first step will be a large, open event in October to which users are invited as well as members of other WWCW strands. We shall invite participants to say what they would hope for from us and we in turn will outline our proposed approach for comment. This 2-way flow will continue throughout the programme, on our website and face to face, with policy-makers raising important research issues and researchers responding.
Interaction with users
We propose five types of face-to-face interaction, all video recorded and made available online. The first is a series of one-day courses for users in different parts of Britain, covering all the main issues. The second is a weekly seminar in which (at alternate sessions) users are invited to present their problems and receive advice and support on their analyses. Third, we shall run four half-day workshops on the analysis and evaluation of longitudinal data and, fourth, three one-day courses on economic evaluation. Finally there will be a major 2-day conference co-organised with the OECD, at which we will present our manual on "wellbeing for policy-makers" - see below.
Synthesis of evidence and methods of evaluation
For policy-makers to aim at subjective wellbeing they need, first, an organised body of knowledge which tells them in a user-friendly way how different factors affect wellbeing. All effects have to be measured in a common currency which measures subjective wellbeing. At present such evidence using a common currency is scarce, but Britain is rich in cohort data which make it possible to look at the effect of all factors simultaneously using a common currency. We shall exploit these data, as well as synthesizing all the existing evidence.
Second policy-makers need a framework for analysing their own policy options, by using the above evidence plus the results of experiments, in order to identify their most cost-effective options. We shall therefore develop a new, alternative Green Book to that now used in the Treasury (where money is the measure of benefit) and we are discussing this with the Treasury. To illustrate the power of this approach we shall then apply it to new or ongoing experimental interventions in schools, home-visiting, adult personal development, the provision of NHS psychological therapy, and the prevention of loneliness in old age.
All this work will be put together in the manual on "wellbeing for policy-makers" which we shall present at the conference co-organised with the OECD, as our contribution to the work of the OECD Consortium of model-builders of wellbeing, for which we have been selected as the British component.
We believe passionately that a shift in the focus of decision-making is possible and that new evidence and frameworks of analysis exist which make this possible. The cross-cutting strand can provide invaluable leadership in this change, by providing an outstanding manual on evidence and decision analysis and by ongoing two-way interaction between researchers and decision-makers. This will surely lead to higher levels of wellbeing throughout our society.
More details are given in the Case for Support.
Planned Impact
1. The beneficiaries we aim to interact with are
public sector organisations (central, local and NHS)
schools
third sector organisations
businesses
general public
other academics, whom we can tempt to work on wellbeing, and
other strands of the WWCW.
2. To build links and contacts at the concept and development phase, we shall hold a 1-day open event at LSE, at which we shall invite views as to what users need, and propose our own plans for meeting their needs (for open discussion). This two-way knowledge-exchange dialogue will continue throughout the project via our programme blog and website.
3. We shall then attempt to interact with users mainly face to face (or via videos) through
- 5 one-day courses in different locations.
- A weekly seminar at LSE where users will be invited (at alternate sessions) to present their problems and analyses and have feedback - with the aim of co-producing new knowledge.
- Four half-day workshops on cohort analysis.
- Three one-day courses on economic evaluation.
- A major international conference in London co-hosted with the OECD.
4. We shall also produce a user-friendly manual on the state of knowledge, providing ready access for decision-makers. We shall also undertake evaluation of a range of wellbeing-relevant interventions, using the new methodology that we propose for cost-effectiveness analysis.
Further detail is contained in the Case for Support and in Pathways to Impact.
public sector organisations (central, local and NHS)
schools
third sector organisations
businesses
general public
other academics, whom we can tempt to work on wellbeing, and
other strands of the WWCW.
2. To build links and contacts at the concept and development phase, we shall hold a 1-day open event at LSE, at which we shall invite views as to what users need, and propose our own plans for meeting their needs (for open discussion). This two-way knowledge-exchange dialogue will continue throughout the project via our programme blog and website.
3. We shall then attempt to interact with users mainly face to face (or via videos) through
- 5 one-day courses in different locations.
- A weekly seminar at LSE where users will be invited (at alternate sessions) to present their problems and analyses and have feedback - with the aim of co-producing new knowledge.
- Four half-day workshops on cohort analysis.
- Three one-day courses on economic evaluation.
- A major international conference in London co-hosted with the OECD.
4. We shall also produce a user-friendly manual on the state of knowledge, providing ready access for decision-makers. We shall also undertake evaluation of a range of wellbeing-relevant interventions, using the new methodology that we propose for cost-effectiveness analysis.
Further detail is contained in the Case for Support and in Pathways to Impact.
Organisations
- London School of Economics and Political Science (Lead Research Organisation)
- The National Lottery Heritage Fund (Co-funder)
- Arts and Humanities Research Council (Co-funder)
- Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (Co-funder)
- Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (Co-funder)
- Arts Council England (Co-funder)
- Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport (Co-funder)
- Department for Work and Pensions (Co-funder)
- Food Standards Agency (Co-funder)
- Sport England (Co-funder)
- Historic Bldgs & Mnts Commis for England (Co-funder)
- Institute for Fiscal Studies (Collaboration)
- Action for Happiness (Project Partner)
- How To Thrive (Project Partner)
- University of Oxford (Project Partner)
Publications
Frijters P
(2020)
A Happy Choice: Wellbeing as the Goal of Government
in Behavioural Public Policy
Frijters P
(2019)
A Happy Choice: Wellbeing as the Goal of Government
Krekel, C.
(2020)
A Local Community Course that Raises Mental Wellbeing and Pro-Sociality
APPG On Wellbeing Economics
(2019)
A Spending Review to Increase Wellbeing: an open letter to the Chancellor, 2019
Bellet C
(2019)
Big Data and Well-being
Buddelmeyer H
(2016)
Can having internal locus of control insure against negative shocks? Psychological evidence from panel data.
in Journal of economic behavior & organization
Frijters P
(2020)
Daily weather only has small effects on wellbeing in the US
in Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization
Frijters P
(2018)
Direct wellbeing measurement and policy appraisal: a discussion paper
| Description | The main general insight is that the most cost-effective interventions that can be undertaken by government, business, and charity, are in the realm of emotion and mental skill training. Examples are the cognitive behaviour therapies of the Improved Access to Psychiatric Treatments now widely available in the UK for people suffering from depression and anxiety; early-life investments in emotional and mental skills like the Healthy Minds curriculum at school; adult emotional and altruistic skills involved in the What Matters curriculum for adults; or relationship training for parents with children with conduct problems. All these are cheap (between 100 and 1000 pounds); pay themselves back within a few years in terms of higher productivity and less costs to the health service and other public services; and work both as small-scale and large-scale interventions, making them suitable for adoption by all who mean well. Moreover, the how-to manual for any of these is freely available. What these interventions have in common is that individuals are initially sceptical about them, but they truly work anyway. Individuals are sceptical because they generically do not like to think of themselves as individuals who have trouble relating to themselves, making friends, raising their children well, or managing their own mental health pressures. And yet, a large slice of the population (>20%) is not already good at these skills and find their internal life and external behaviour improves markedly after only a few months training, with improvements lasting for many years in trials, and probably their whole lives. ORIGINS OF HAPPINESS: The latest evidence on what promotes wellbeing and reduces misery Most human misery is due not to economic factors but to failed relationships and physical and mental illness. Eliminating depression and anxiety would reduce misery by 20% while eliminating poverty would reduce it by 5%. And on top of that, reducing mental illness would involve no net cost to the public purse. Among the findings on the key determinants of people's life satisfaction: • Income inequality explains only 1% of the variation in happiness in the community, while mental health differences explain over 4%. Education has a very small effect on life satisfaction, compared with, for example, having a partner. • When people evaluate their income or education, they generally measure it against the locally prevailing norm. As a result overall increases in income or education have little effect on the overall happiness of the population: if my relative income rises, someone else's must fall, and the average is unchanged. This helps to explain why in Britain, Germany the United States, and Australia, average happiness has failed to rise since records began, despite massive increases in living standards. • The strongest factor predicting a happy adult life is not children's qualifications but their emotional health. There is also powerful evidence that schools have a big impact on children's emotional health, and which school a child goes to will affect their emotional wellbeing as much as it affects their exam performance. |
| Exploitation Route | Re-prioritisation of policies |
| Sectors | Education,Healthcare,Government, Democracy and Justice |
| Description | Raising awareness of importance of public policy and in society as a whole The cross-cutting group of the WWCW has performed a crucial role. In the early phase it helped to establish life-satisfaction as the central (but not exclusive) concept of wellbeing that the Centre was aiming to promote - the common currency. Since then it has had four main aims. 1. To explain life-satisfaction in a way that makes it possible to compare the effects of all the main factors operating at different ages, in a comparable way. This led to what we hope will become the functional wellbeing-numbers Bible for policy-makers, i.e. the Origins of Happiness which was presented at a major joint LSE/OECD/WWCW conference in London in December 2016. The book was published in early 2018. At the same time a large number of accompanying articles has been written and continue to be written,. Many of these are based on seven interventions proposed in our original application. Some of these have been especially successful and made high impact. 2. The second aim has been to promote a radically new method for policy-making where benefits are measured in units of wellbeing. This has been done through numerous courses and seminars and has culminated in the production of a Handbook of Wellbeing Cost-Effectiveness in November 2019. This has been published with Oxford University Press in June 2021 and establishes a new field. 3. A third aim was to increase the standing of wellbeing as a valid aim of public resources. With our input, wellbeing was included in the aims of the updated 2018 Green Book. In 2021 the same team was involved in the newest wellbeing update of the Green Book (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/green-book-supplementary-guidance-wellbeing), which has adopted the developed WELLBY methodology for appraisals and evaluations throughout the UK public sector, mentioning the 2021 OUP Handbook dozens of times. The same methodology has now been adopted by the Treasury of NZ. The UK What Works Center for Wellbeing (https://whatworkswellbeing.org/) has several publications explaining the WELLBY methodology for different audiences. 4. To inform and affect the general public about the wellbeing tradeoffs of different policies. This is now a burgeoning field. Since the start of 2021 alone, up till mid-March 2022, Google Scholar lists about 130 new publications using the phrase "WELLBY", which was developed as part of this grant. As an example of the societal impact, in 2020-2021 the WELLBY (the key invention of this whole program, first published early 2020) was used by 5 different teams of authors in 6 countries (UK, Belgium, Netherlands, Canada, Australia, New Zealand) as the basis of a broad cost-benefit analysis of lockdown policies. Another example of social impact across many field is the activity of State of Life (https://www.stateoflife.org/), a philantropic organisation. State of Life has adopted the WELLBY methodology in its basic cost-benefit products, made it cheaply available to its (usually small) clients, which has thus meant thousands of applications (including a few big ones, such as for a large Church of England report). 5. To enhance wellbeing teaching and knowledge dissemination both within academia and the civil service. We have now established a Masters course at LSE (starting 2019) on Wellbeing and Public Policy. In 2021/2022 this course was transferred from Social Policy to the Behavioural Department, where it is current taught by Dr Christial Krekel. There have also been more than a dozen workshops given to public servants, and several for the general public. The general public has been kept informed of new results in wellbeing. On the "Origins of Happiness" alone, there have been over 40 newspaper articles around the world, including the FT. In the March 2022 to March 2023 period the WELLBY methodology, which is the main accomplishment of the cross-cutting stream, has continued to spread inside the public sector in the the UK and elsewhere. We have not monitored it, but we know that the methodology is now used by the Treasury in New Zealand, that in Denmark the group around Michael Brikjaer is setting up a WELLBY-based value bank (they call it WALY but have adopted the main WELLBY methodological elements), and in the UK there are several projects underway to apply the WELLBY cost-benefit tools. It is not a huge wave of applications yet. |
| Sector | Agriculture, Food and Drink,Communities and Social Services/Policy,Creative Economy,Digital/Communication/Information Technologies (including Software),Education,Environment,Financial Services, and Management Consultancy,Healthcare,Leisure Activities, including Sports, Recreation and Tourism,Government, Democracy and Justice,Culture, Heritage, Museums and Collections,Transport,Other |
| Impact Types | Cultural,Societal,Economic,Policy & public services |
| Description | HM Treasury Wellbeing Teach In - implementing a Wellbeing Cost Benefit Analysis into the HMT Green Book |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Influenced training of practitioners or researchers |
| URL | https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-green-book-appraisal-and-evaluation-in-central-govern... |
| Description | The Treasury updated the Green Book in March 2018, which adopted direct wellbeing measurement as an accepted methodology and linking to a website on the What Works Centre for Wellbeing (which includes CEP researchers). It stated clearly "Central Government appraisal is based on how the government can improve wellbeing [] Wellbeing should be considering in developing options and appraising options". This followed a series of meetings with Richard Layard and Paul Frijters and HMT officials. |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Citation in other policy documents |
| Description | Training workshop for Arts Council England/Historic England and Sport England on use and implementation of the CEP authored Wellbeing Policy Manual (18/9/2019) |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Influenced training of practitioners or researchers |
| Description | Training workshop for Department for Transport employees on use and implementation of the CEP authored Wellbeing POlicy Manual (17/10/2019) |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Influenced training of practitioners or researchers |
| Description | Training workshop for Department of Culture, Media and Sports employees on use and implementation of the CEP authored Wellbeing Policy Manual (30/10/2019) |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Influenced training of practitioners or researchers |
| Description | Training workshop for Department of Work and pensions employees on use and implementation of the CEP authored Wellbeing Policy Manual (4/9/2019) |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Influenced training of practitioners or researchers |
| Description | Training workshop for Welsh Government employees on use and implementation of the CEP authored Wellbeing Policy Manual (29/10/2019) |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Influenced training of practitioners or researchers |
| Description | Peterborough Early Childhood Intervention |
| Organisation | Institute for Fiscal Studies |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | Responsibility for formulating the data collection plan, selecting measures to pilot and overseeing the piloting of assessments in Peterborough (part of feasibility study funded by Nuffield Foundation) |
| Collaborator Contribution | Submission of bid to Nuffield Foundation for feasibility study; scientific leadership of the feasibility study |
| Impact | Nuffield Foundation funded a pilot study on this, which completed in 2018. Home visits were conducted with approximately 20 participants, and data was collected from them (including on wellbeing and mental health) and is now being transcribed for analysis. One day workshop at Peterborough in May 2017, including early years providers and other stakeholders in Peterborough, with the aim of introducing the intervention and soliciting advice and suggestions from local practitionersincluding policymakers and practitioners. This is a collaboration amongst economists, psychologists and early childcare providers |
| Start Year | 2014 |
| Description | 13 June 2018: Paul Frijters presented at a Treasury roundtable on the Green Book. |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | 13 June 2018: Paul Frijters presented at a Treasury roundtable on the Green Book. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | BEIS Time to Change Event |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | Richard Layard presented on Wellbeing &Public Policy at the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy's "Time to Change Event" on 10 October. The event was attended by 50 civil servants and was held to mark World Mental Health Day |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| Description | Blog: Children's mental wellbeing and ill-health: not two sides of the same coin |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | If I asked you what makes a child happy, one possible answer would be the opposite of what makes them sad. This would be considered a non-controversial response. The intuitive assumption when considering subjective wellbeing and psychological distress is that factors associated with one are associated with the other - albeit in the opposite direction. But what if we're wrong? What if wellbeing and mental illness, or happy and sad, are not two sides of the same mental health coin? In this blog for World Mental Health Day, Dr Praveetha Patalay examines the factors that influence children's mental illness and wellbeing using the Millennium Cohort Study. The blog appeared on the What Works for Wellbeing blog, and was cross-posted to the IOE London blog and the CLS website. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| URL | https://whatworkswellbeing.org/2016/10/10/childrens-mental-wellbeing-and-ill-health-not-two-sides-of... |
| Description | CEP Wellbeing Programme on the Enjoyment of Life Seminar Series 2015 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Thursday 03 December 2015 13:00 - 14:15 Understanding wellbeing at work with a behavioural and adaptive approach to job design Kevin Daniels (UEA) Thursday 26 November 2015 13:00 - 14:15 Teacher Quality, Test Scores and Non-Cognitive Skills: Evidence from Primary School Teachers in UK Sarah Fleche (CEP) Thursday 05 November 2015 13:00 - 14:15 Boss competence and worker wellbeing Amanda Goodall (Cass Business School) Thursday 08 October 2015 13:00 - 14:15 Top incomes and human wellbeing around the world Nattavudh (Nick) Powdthavee (CEP) Thursday 02 July 2015 13:00 - 14:15 The Impact of Childhood Economic Circumstances on Psychological Resilience: Evidence from Latent Class Modelling of Panel Data David Johnston (Monash) Thursday 25 June 2015 13:00 - 14:15 What can genetics tell us about the environmental causes of wellbeing? Claire Haworth (Bristol) Thursday 18 June 2015 13:00 - 14:15 Same Exposure but Different Response: The Importance of Considering Individual Differences in Environmental Sensitivity Michael Pluess (QMUL) |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
| URL | http://cep.lse.ac.uk/_new/events/seminar_past.asp?ID=68 |
| Description | CEP Wellbeing Programme on the Enjoyment of Life Seminar Series 2016 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Thursday 28 January 2016 13:00 - 14:15 Home Sweet Home: (Mis-)Beliefs About the Extent to Which Home Ownership Makes People Happy Alois Stutzer (University of Basel) Thursday 11 February 2016 13:00 - 14:15 Employee satisfaction, labor market flexibility, and stock returns around the world Alex Edmans (London Business School) Thursday 18 February 2016 13:00 - 14:15 Would You Choose to be Happy? Tradeoffs between Happiness and the Other Dimensions of Life in a Large Population Survey George Kavetsos (QMUL and CEP) Thursday 3 March 2016 13:00 - 14.15 The role of mental health, physical health and social activity in determining life-satisfaction in later life Andrew Steptoe (Psycho-biology Group, Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, UCL) Thursday 10 March 2016 13:00 - 14:15 Determinants of wellbeing at older ages - from the MRC National Survey of Health and Development Mai Stafford (UCL) |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| URL | http://cep.lse.ac.uk/_new/events/seminar.asp?ID=68 |
| Description | Conference: Mental Health and Contested Boundaries, Cumberland Lodge (February 2016) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Monday, 1 February 2016 - 9:30am to Tuesday, 2 February 2016 - 4:30pm The role of well-being in public mental health is a subject that is being discussed widely in academic, policy and clinical circles, but there is concern that these discussions have become more of a mantra within policy making rather than an evidence-based reality. The overall objective of the conference will be to provide a safe forum for researchers, practitioners, service users, NHS representatives, charities, students and funders to exchange views and talk constructively about the contested boundaries of well-being in public mental health and discuss options for improving the situation going forward. The key questions that will be addressed during the panel sessions are: • What is the relationship between 'mental health' and 'well-being'? • What is "wellbeing"? • What evidence is there on promoting resilience in mental health? • What is our approach to the use of evidence in mental health policy? • What is the role of psychiatry in public mental health? • How are mental health variations of importance measured and experienced? • Taking things forward and working together - the future of public mental health Speakers Professor Tim Croudace, Chair in Applied Health Research, University of Dundee Professor Dame Sally Davies, Chief Medical Officer for England Professor Richard Layard, LSE Dr Jeanelle de Gruchy, Vice President, ADPH Paul Farmer, CEO, MIND Dr Simon Howard, Public Health Speciality Registrar Professor Willem Kuyken, Clinical Psychology and Director, Oxford Mindfulness Centre, University of Oxford Sally McManus, Co-Head of Health Policy Research, NatCen Dr Kai Ruggeri, Director of the Policy Research Group, Department of Psychology, University of Cambridge Heema Shukla, Public Health Consultant Dr Geraldine Strathdee, National Clinical Director for Mental Health, NHS England Professor Graham Thornicroft, Professor of Community Psychiatry, Institute of Psychiatry, KCL Dr Karen Turner, Director of Mental Health, NHS England |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| URL | http://www.cumberlandlodge.ac.uk/whats-on/mental-health-and-well-being-contested-boundaries |
| Description | HM Treasury Wellbeing Teach In series |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | Professor Lord Richard Layard, Professor Andrew Oswald and Professor Paul Frijters, Sara MacLennan (Head of evidence and analysis, What Works Centre for Wellbeing) have given two "teach in" sessions (December 2017 and February 2018) to members of the treasury's economics teams - cover the overarching wellbeing framework, existing evidence, challenges with the current evidence and what is needed to improve it, practical examples of how wellbeing could be incorporated in the Green Book. These sessions were attended by several members of the Government Economic Service (GES) and several HMT department heads in the Fiscal Policy sections. The WWCW guide on the use of wellbeing evidence in cost-effectiveness analysis is now directly linked to in the Green Book (p.42) |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017,2018 |
| URL | https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/685903/The_Green_Book.pdf |
| Description | Half-day Workshop on Wellbeing over the Lifecourse (LSE, February 2016) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Workshop on Wellbeing over the Life-Course Organised by the OECD, the Centre for Economic Performance of the London School of Economics and CEPREMAP Well-Being Observatory 1.00-5.30pm, 25 February 2016 Introduction Richard Layard (CEP) The determinants of childhood wellbeing Nick Powdthavee (CEP) The determinants of adult wellbeing Andrew Clark (CEP/PSE) 5.30pm Ends * * * |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| Description | Healthy Minds: the positive impact of a new school curriculum |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Magazine article by Grace Lordan and Alistiar McGuire in the Centre for Economic Performance magazine, CentrePiece (vol 558), published by the London School of Economics, which is circulated to over 3000 readers. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| URL | http://cep.lse.ac.uk/_new/publications/abstract.asp?index=6296 |
| Description | Inaugural meeting of the reinvigorated APPG on Wellbeing Economics, Houses of Parliament and WWCW (Layard) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | Richard Layard and Gus O'Donnel have restarted the APPG on Wellbeing Economics with WWCW providing adminsitrative support. They are working towards a report to be published in May 2019 18/12/2018 https://wellbeingeconomics.co.uk/ |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018,2019 |
| URL | https://wellbeingeconomics.co.uk/ |
| Description | Invited speaker: UK Government Social Impact Task Force (Multiple meetings) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | UK Government Social Impact Task Force (Multiple meetings), Cabinet Office |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
| Description | Invited to present at keynote session of the Adolescent Lives and Wellbeing Conference, organised by the UCL Centre for Global Health |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | Invited to present the keynote session of the UCL Adolescent Lives and Wellbeing conference, organised by the Centre for Global Health. Speakers at the session included Emla Fitzsimons, Morag Henderson and Aase Villadsen (Centre for Longitudinal Studies, UCL Institute of Education). Presented evidence on mental health and wellbeing from the Millennium Cohort Study and Next Steps. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| URL | https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/adolescent-lives-and-wellbeing-conference-tickets-37800843340# |
| Description | LSE CEP Wellbeing Seminar Series 2016-2017 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | Thursday 09 March 2017 13:00 - 14:15 Human Well-being and In-Work Benefits: A Randomized Controlled Trial Andrew Oswald (IZA and University of Warwick) Thursday 02 March 2017 13:00 - 14:15 Trust and Wellbeing John Helliwell (UBC & NBER ) Thursday 23 February 2017 13:00 - 14:15 Medical Marijuana Laws and Mental Health in the US Alois Stutzer (University of Basel) Thursday 16 February 2017 13:00 - 14:15 The Narrative Trap Paul Dolan (LSE) Thursday 09 February 2017 13:00 - 14:15 Diversity and Neighbourhood Satisfaction Alan Manning (CEP) Thursday 01 December 2016 13:00 - 14:15 The effect of green spaces on wellbeing Christian Krekel (CEP) Thursday 13 October 2016 13:00 - 14:15 Converting the life satisfaction question into QALYs. Do people trade life satisfaction for additional years of life? Tessa Peasgood (University of Sheffield) Thursday 22 September 2016 13:00 - 14:15 Faster, Higher, Stronger... and Happier? The 'Photo-Finish' Effect and Other Determinants of Athlete Emotions Laura Kudrna (LSE) Thursday 08 September 2016 13:00 - 14:15 Determinants of resilience in adult mental health Paul Frijters (University of Queensland) Thursday 09 June 2016 13:00 - 14:15 How childhood affects crime Steve Machin (CEP, London School of Economics and University College London) Thursday 26 May 2016 13:00 - 14:15 Costs and benefits of early intervention Leon Feinstein (Early Intervention Foundation) , joint with Kirsten Asmussen and Haroon Chowdry (EIF) Thursday 19 May 2016 13:00 - 14:15 A computational and neural model of momentary happiness Robb Rutledge (UCL) Thursday 12 May 2016 13:00 - 14:15 Work-time duration and subjective wellbeing. Evidence from a French reform, and Unemployment benefits and job satisfaction: Evidence from Germany Anthony Lepinteur (PSE, CEP) , joint with Alexandre Georgieff (PSE, CEP) Thursday 05 May 2016 13:00 - 14:15 Wellbeing in policy: approaches and challenges Ewen McKinnon (Cabinet Office) Thursday 28 April 2016 13:00 - 14:15 Do people seek to maximize their subjective wellbeing - and fail? Hannes Schwandt (Zurich) Thursday 10 March 2016 13:00 - 14:15 Determinants of wellbeing at older ages - from the MRC National Survey of Health and Development Mai Stafford (UCL) Thursday 03 March 2016 13:00 - 14:15 The role of mental health, physical health and social activity in determining life-satisfaction in later life Andrew Steptoe (Psycho-biology Group, Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, UCL) Thursday 18 February 2016 13:00 - 14:15 Would You Choose to be Happy? Tradeoffs between Happiness and the Other Dimensions of Life in a Large Population Survey George Kavetsos (QMUL and CEP) Thursday 11 February 2016 13:00 - 14:15 Employee satisfaction, labor market flexibility, and stock returns around the world Alex Edmans (London Business School) Thursday 28 January 2016 13:00 - 14:15 Home Sweet Home: (Mis-)Beliefs About the Extent to Which Home Ownership Makes People Happy Alois Stutzer (University of Basel) |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016,2017 |
| URL | http://cep.lse.ac.uk/_new/events/seminar_past.asp?ID=68 |
| Description | LSE OECD International Conference (LSE, December 2016) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | Subjective well-being over the life course: Evidence and policy implications. Organised by OECD, CEPREMAP, What Works Centre for Wellbeing , and CEP (Monday 12 - Tuesday13 December 2016) The conference on 12-13 December 2016 presented the latest findings of research on the determinants of subjective well-being over the life course and included leading international policy-makers and policy-analysts reflecting on the evidence and how to use it in the real world. The meeting included international speakers from the OECD, USA, France, Germany, Sweden, Australia, New Zealand and Canada, with high-level panellists from the UK government and German Chancellery. And keynote addresses by Lord Gus O'Donnell, Prof Jeffrey Sachs, Mari Kiviniemi, OECD Deputy Secretary General and Prof Alan Krueger. Over 250 participants took part and the conference received wide public attention. Our findings featured on the BBC Today programme, and Sky News, 12 local and regional radio stations, as well as in the Financial Times, The Daily Telegraph, and the Guardian. Most significant of all it was for eight hours one of the four headline items on the BBC News website. It was also picked up by media outlets worldwide. This media campaign was supported by a readable blog piece on VoxEu. The Conference proceedings and videos are now available online http://cep.lse.ac.uk/_new/events/event.asp?id=275 |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| URL | http://cep.lse.ac.uk/_new/events/event.asp?id=275 |
| Description | LSE Public Event - The Origins of Happiness: RIchard Layard in conversation with Andrew Marr |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | To mark the publication of The Origins of Happiness Andrew Marr and Richard Layard discuss some of its key focal points: What makes people happy? Why should governments care about people's wellbeing? How would policy change if wellbeing was the main objective? LSE Public event. 350 members of the public attended |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| URL | http://cep.lse.ac.uk/_new/events/event.asp?id=458 |
| Description | Media coverage for follow-up briefing on young people's mental health |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | We produced a CLS briefing paper, Mental ill-health and wellbeing at age 14. CLS worked on an exclusive article with Denis Campbell, Guardian Health Editor. For the story, Campbell used the CLS briefing paper, and conducted interviews with lead author, Dr Praveetha Patalay. The story appeared as the front page lead article in The Guardian on Saturday, 19 May 2018. The Times and Mail ran their own online stories based on the Guardian exclusive later that day. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| URL | https://www.theguardian.com/society/2018/may/18/poorest-brightest-girls-uk-depressed-study-teenagers... |
| Description | Meeting on future of Wellbeing in public policy with David Halpern and Behavioural Insights team (Layard, November 2018) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | Meeting on future of Wellbeing in public policy with David Halpern and Behavioural Insights team (Layard, November 2018) |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Meeting with Department of Health, Health Improvement Analytical team (June 2015) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | Dept of Health, Health Improvement Analytical team Mike Batley Penny Withers Robert Unsworth What Works Centre for Wellbeing Nancy Hey, Director Dawn Snape, Head of analysis and evidence Richard Layard and Jan De Neve from the Cross Cutting Evidence programme |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
| Description | Meeting with Scottish Government Statistician (February 2016) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Issues discussed: National Performance Framework - views on - experience of engaging people and getting concepts across to the public - the merits of performance dashboards vrs aggregating to few composite measures, or having few headline measures. - raising its profile internationally. Academic links and developments. What is going on measuring wellbeing. Roger Halliday, Chief Statistician & Head of Performance, Scottish Government |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| Description | Meeting with Stakeholders (Cost-effectiveness Analysis) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | Meeting with Gus O'Donnell, Richard Layard, Martin Knapp and Joseph Lowe (HM Treasury) on 13 January 2016, together with What Works Centre for Wellbeing Strand Representatives to discuss methods of analysing the cost-effectiveness of wellbeing interventions. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| Description | Meeting with Treasury official to discuss wellbeing and public policy, and cost benefit analysis (Layard, June 2018) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | Meeting with Treasury official to discuss wellbeing and public policy, and cost benefit analysis (Layard, June 2018) |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Multiple meetings on wellbeing cost-effectiveness handbook with BEIS / DWP / DCMS / Welsh Government/ Sports England / Heritage / Community (Frijters) Dec-Feb 7 meetings |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | Multiple meetings on wellbeing cost-effectiveness handbook with BEIS / DWP / DCMS / Welsh Government/ Sports England / Heritage / Community (Frijters) Dec-Feb 7 meetings |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018,2019 |
| Description | OECD International Worksop on Putting Well-being Metrics into Policy Action (3-4 October 2019) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | The goal of this workshop was to assist national governments in developing innovative approaches to putting people's well-being at the centre of public policy. Speakers drawn from diverse policy settings, providing both the leadership view from ministers and parliamentarians, and the practical view from civil servants and statisticians. Academics, think tanks, civil society and media representatives will also be invited to share their reactions and proposals with policy makers. Richard Layard spoke on the panel on Embedding well-being in the policy analysis toolkit and Nancy Hey on the Panel on Building the evidence base and civil service capacity |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| URL | http://www.oecd.org/statistics/putting-well-being-metrics-into-policy-action.htm |
| Description | One Day Course on Wellbeing and Cost Effectiveness in Policy |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | Richard Layard, Paul Frijters, Andrew Clark and the What Works Centre for Wellbeing ran a one day course on wellbeing and cost effectiveness in policy. Aim of the course was to enable analysts to evaluate policy options in terms of their impact on the wellbeing of the population (relative to cost). It was open to analysts in central and local government, the NHS and NGOs. 170 delegates across the civil service and NGOs attended. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| URL | https://www.eventbrite.com/e/policy-tools-wellbeing-impacts-value-for-money-one-day-course-tickets-3... |
| Description | One day workshop - Wellbeing Cost Effectiveness Analysis |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | Created primarily for analysts, this free one-day workshop draws on expertise from the London School of Economics and the What Works Centre for Wellbeing to help analysts: outline the principles of economic evaluation with wellbeing as a key measure of success; describe how those principles can be turned into practical evaluations; provide illustrations across a range of public policy areas. This event was held on 29 January and was run by Martin Knapp. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| URL | https://www.eventbrite.com/e/wellbeing-cost-effectiveness-analysis-free-one-day-workshop-tickets-413... |
| Description | One-day Workshop on Wellbeing over the Lifecourse (LSE, July 2016) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | Organised by the OECD, the LSE Centre for Economic Performance and CEPREMAP Well-Being Observatory, with the What Works Centre for Wellbeing The Wellbeing Group in the Centre for Economic Performance is writing a comprehensive analysis of wellbeing over the life-course. The aim is to do this in a way that can really help policy-makers, together with a new form of CBA. We will present a very first draft of the book in a one-day conference on Friday 29 July 2016, followed by a reception. Professors Andrew Clark, Nick Powdthavee and Andrew Steptoe will present further findings for our report "Paths to Wellbeing", aimed at building an overall model of wellbeing over the life-course. There will also be a session on a wellbeing approach to public policy with Lord Gus O'Donnell, and Professors Richard Layard and Tim Besley. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| URL | http://cep.lse.ac.uk/conference_papers/29_07_2016/2016_07_29_OECD.pdf |
| Description | Online article: Linking work and health: the What Works Centre for Wellbeing (Personnel Today, 23 December 2015) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | "Cross-cutting capabilities: This project is being led by Professor Lord Richard Layard of the London School of Economics and will assess and develop methods of understanding how policy and practice can affect wellbeing. It will look at the effect of different factors on wellbeing, analyse the impact of wellbeing on other outcomes and develop a framework for cost effectiveness analysis with wellbeing as the measure of benefit. It will also carry out a "life course" analysis, looking at how important early life is to wellbeing in later years. " |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
| URL | http://www.personneltoday.com/hr/linking-work-health-works-centre-wellbeing/ |
| Description | Origins of Happiness, Centrepiece article, Spring 2017 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | Understanding the key determinants of people's life satisfaction makes it possible to suggest policies for how best to reduce misery and promote wellbeing. A forthcoming book by Richard Layard and colleagues discusses evidence on the origins of happiness in survey data from Australia, Germany, the UK and the United States. Centrepiece article, Spring 2017 (The magazine of Center for Economic Performance) |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| URL | http://cep.lse.ac.uk/pubs/download/cp497.pdf |
| Description | Participation in 3rd International German Forum, hosted by Federal Chancellor Dr. Angela Merkel, Federal Chancellery, 21-22 February 2017 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | Entitled "What matters to people - global health and innovation" Chancellor Angela Merkel and international experts have discussed ways of improving global health. This is a matter of major importance, she said, and thus one of the priorities of Germany's G20 Presidency. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| URL | https://www.bundesregierung.de/Webs/Breg/DE/Mediathek/Einstieg/mediathek_einstieg_livestream_node.ht... |
| Description | Participation in workshop to inform the research agenda on improving cross-sector comparisons using QALYs and other measures (MRC, July 2015) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Introduction From its inception in 1999 NICE's decision making has used the health-related quality of life adjusted life year (QALY) which captures both the length and aspects of quality of life (QOL) that are related to health. Historically the EQ5D questionnaire has been NICE's preferred method to calculate the QALY because it was the only one to have a UK value set (tariff) enabling it to be used in cost-utility analysis. Whilst there are inherent limitations in all available measures, the role of the QALY and the EQ5D in national access decisions has focussed scrutiny. The challenges have included a lack of sensitivity and that not all the outcomes that are important are captured, particularly for public health and social care interventions. An intervention may be financed by one sector and have additional benefits in others which are not captured and there is no consistency in decision-making. Therefore methodological development is required. To inform the future research agenda addressing cross-sector decision making, a meeting was held at the MRC on 14th July 2015 attended by representatives of various academic institutions, patient organisations, NICE, the Department of Health, NIHR, health charities, What Works in Wellbeing, the Cabinet office and the Medical Research Council. There were presentations on the MRC research grant process, NICE's approach to science policy development and current difficulties faced by NICE. An overview of the current methods available for cross sector benefit measurement commissioned by the MRC was presented and a summary given from the social care perspective. The presentations were followed by discussion. During the meeting, there were a number of emerging themes that can be categorised into three overlapping topics: 1. Foundational questions of valuation and decision-making - the underlying value judgements that need to be made to construct and utilise a benefit measure suitable for decision- making. 2. Methods of benefit measurement - the type of benefits NICE should prioritise over others given its remit and the broad methodological approaches available to measure these benefits. 3. The appropriate decision rule / reference case - how the benefit measure(s) should be applied in decision-making. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
| Description | Presentation at the World Government Summit, Dubai, 11-12 February 2017 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | We have been invited to shape a World Happiness Council, sponsored by the United Arab Emirates government, in conjunction with the OECD. The aim will be to provide evidence and policy advice to governments regarding the best practices to promote happiness and wellbeing. It will bring several governments together to look at best practice through thematic working groups, backed by an expert advisory council on which the WHR co-editors (Jeff Sachs, John Helliwell and Richard Layard). Themes will include: Policy-evaluation; Health; Cities; Work; Education and Personal happiness. The work of the Global Council will be complementary to the international rankings and scientific studies provided by the World Happiness Report. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| URL | https://worldgovernmentsummit.org/ |
| Description | Press Coverage of LSE OECD Conference on Wellbeing over the Life Course |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | Monday 12 December Guardian Happiness depends on health and friends, not money, says new study Landmark research says tackling mental health issues more effective than reducing poverty for increasing happiness rates. Extra spending on reducing mental illness would be self-financing, the researchers added, because it would be recovered by the government through higher employment and increased tax receipts together with a reduction in NHS costs from fewer GP visits and hospital A&E admissions. https://www.theguardian.com/society/2016/dec/12/happiness-depends-on-health-and-friends-not-money-says-new-study The Telegraph Finding love makes you happier than a pay rise, study finds Finding love and enjoying good mental health are by far the most important keys to a happy life, a study by the London School of Economics has found. Both factors were found to be more significant contributors to an individual's overall contentment than economic factors, including doubling one's salary, according to analysis by the LSE. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/12/12/finding-love-makes-happier-pay-rise-study-finds/ The Independent Unhappiness more likely to result from poor mental health or being single than economic factors, major new study finds LSE academics want to 'revolutionise how we think about human priorities' and promote use of 'subjective wellbeing' as a measure of successful governance, instead of economy. http://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/happiness-study-lse-mental-health-relationships-money-does-not-dictate-subjective-wellbeing-a7468676.html BBC online - Newsday - BBC World Service Can treating health rather than wealth lead to more happiness? Governments are being told they must measure the happiness of their people. And Dr Richard Layard, who co-edits the World Happiness Report, says the evidence is now there to enable that to be done. He says tackling physical and mental health are key ways to improve happiness and are more effective than focussing on issues like poverty. Dr Layard works at the Centre for Economic Performance at the London School of Economics. http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p04l38xr BBC News Mental health and relationships 'key to happiness' Good mental health and having a partner make people happier than doubling their income, a new study has found. The research by the London School of Economics looked at responses from 200,000 people on how different factors impacted their wellbeing. Suffering from depression or anxiety hit individuals hardest, whilst being in a relationship saw the biggest increase in their happiness. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-38285223 FT.com Happy-go-lucky economics ...than a flawed but narrow one, such as income". A conference at the London School of Economics this week focuses on new... http://www.ft.com/cms/s/065b681c-c11b-11e6-9bca-2b93a6856354.html?FTCamp=engage/CAPI/webapp/Channel_Cision//B2B The Scotsman A partner has more impact on happiness than getting a pay rise Report co-author Richard Layard said: "The evidence shows that the things that matter most for our happiness and for our misery are our social relationships and our mental and physical health. This demands a new role for the state - not 'wealth creation' but 'wellbeing creation'. http://www.scotsman.com/news/a-partner-has-more-impact-on-happiness-than-getting-a-pay-rise-1-4314989 LSE Business Review blog The big factors affecting life satisfaction are all non-economic What distinguishes 'Les Misérables' from the rest is neither poverty nor unemployment, but mental illness, write Andrew Clark, Sarah Fleche, Richard Layard, Nattavudh (Nick) Powdthavee and George Ward. http://blogs.lse.ac.uk/businessreview/2016/12/12/the-big-factors-affecting-life-satisfaction-are-all-non-economic/ The Sun Can't buy me love. Being in a loving relationship makes us happier than getting a pay rise, study shows The London School of Economics examined studies of 200,000 people worldwide to determine how different factors had an impact on wellbeing. It found people care most about income relative to other people. Unemployment, depression and anxiety ¬disorders all reduced happiness by about 0.7. https://www.thesun.co.uk/living/2377840/being-in-a-loving-relationship-makes-us-happier-than-getting-a-pay-rise-study-shows/ TV and Radio India TV Money can't buy happiness only love can: study According to a recent research led by London School of Economics, not financial factors but meaningful relationship and robust mental health are the reasons behind a happy and content individual. It further added that the happiness of finding love and good mental health is much more than of doubling one's salary. http://www.indiatvnews.com/lifestyle/news-money-cant-buy-happiness-only-love-can-study-360601 NDTV (India) Love beats money when it comes to happiness: study Things that matter most for our happiness are social relationships and mental and physical health than economic factors, according to a study by the London School of Economics. http://www.ndtv.com/health/love-beats-money-when-it-comes-to-happiness-study-1637142 WCCO-TV-online Should society pay closer attention to happiness, mental health? In a new study, researchers at the London School of Economics say that much of the misery in the world is tied to human relationships and mental health issues, not money problems (2:44). WCCO Mid-Morning. http://minnesota.cbslocal.com/video/3591638-should-society-pay-closer-attention-to-happiness-mental-health/ BBC Radio London LSE study on wellbeing Discussion re a study from the London School of Economics which shows most human misery is due to physical and mental illness and failed relationships, not poverty http://mms.tveyes.com/playerlette.aspx?StationID=7295?tDateTime=12%2f12%2f2016+06%3a21%3a01&Duration=302&ShowAllControls=true&MaxWidth=320&PartnerID=1535&ShowScrubber=true Also on • BBC World Service , BBC Breakfast , BBC Radio 2, BBC Radio 4, BBC Hereford and Worcester, BBC Radio Cornwall, BBC Radio Scotland (Glasgow), BBC Coventry & Warwickshire, BBC Radio Nottingham, BBC Radio 5 Live, LBC Radio, Magic 105.4 FM, BBC Radio Leeds, BBC Lincolnshire, BBC Radio Humberside, BBC Radio Kent, BBC Radio Lancashire, BBC Radio Merseyside, BBC Wales (Bangor) LBC Radio James O'Brien - James sums up why Britain is miserable in three simple points James O'Brien was at his passionate best as he summed up why Britain is 'miserable' in three simple points. London School of Economics has released research claiming good mental health and relationships are the 'key to happiness'. http://www.lbc.co.uk/radio/presenters/james-obrien/james-why-britain-is-miserable-in-three-points/ Sverige Radio (Sweden) Mental health provides more happiness than money Rich countries should invest much more on mental health than today, it is much more important than combating poverty to increase citizens ' happiness. It shows a comprehensive study presented at a scientific conference in London today. http://sverigesradio.se/sida/artikel.aspx?programid=83&artikel=6585784 Swedish Television online Psykvard go ross lyckligare an pengar/Mental health makes us happier than money Mental disorders account for four times more perceived unhappiness than poverty does in all study the OECD countries, but nevertheless are evidence-based mental health extremely underfunded throughout the Western world, "said research team leader professor Richard Layard. http://www.svt.se/nyheter/vetenskap/psykvard-gor-oss-lyckligare-an-pengar Online iTech Post Money can't buy happiness, new study shows According to the research team, the study "revolutionises how we think about human priorities" and promote using the "burgeoning new science of 'subjective wellbeing'" as a measure of successful governance, instead of the economy. The team also noted the mental illness was an enormous factor in unhappiness and that this issue should be addressed by policymakers. The role of the state in the well-being of its people has recently been shifted, the study notes. Although steps have been taken to address poverty, unemployment, education, and physical health, governments should not forget that domestic violence, alcoholism, depression and anxiety are equally important factors in the overall well-being of citizens. http://www.itechpost.com/articles/64492/20161212/money-cant-buy-happiness-new-study-shows.htm sipse.com (Mexico) Vencer depresión y ansiedad ayudaría a acabar con la pobreza: economistas http://sipse.com/ciencia-y-salud/felicidad-buenas-relaciones-estudio-economia-londres-ciencia-234381.html Postimees Tervis (Estonia) Two of the factors that make a person happy http://tervis.postimees.ee/3943617/kaks-tegurit-mis-teevad-inimese-onnelikuks Le Matin (France) A study on happiness says it is a matter of friendship more than money Most of the suffering can be attributed to poor social relations and to the a les maladies disease rather than to lack of money, considers research expanded from the London School of Economics. http://www.lematin.ch/societe/vivre/standard/bonheur-affaire-amitie-dargent/story/26692488 [Daily] Mail online Money really doesn't make you happy: New study reveals tackling mental health problems would 'reduce misery' more than solving poverty Money really can't buy happiness, according to an extensive research project into Britain's well-being. The cheapest way and most effective way to make Britain feel happier and to reduce misery levels is by improving mental health treatment. A study by Lord Richard Layard and others at the London School of Economics found that treating depression and anxiety would reduce misery in the UK by 20 per cent. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4023428/Money-really-doesn-t-make-happy-New-study-reveals-tackling-mental-health-problems-reduce-misery-solving-poverty.html Shropshire Star Partners are the key to happiness Having a partner has a greater impact on a person's happiness than getting a pay rise, an international study has discovered. http://www.shropshirestar.com/shropshire-business/money/uk-money/2016/12/12/partners-are-the-key-to-happiness/ Also in: Guernsey Press Partners are the key to happiness http://guernseypress.com/business/uk-money/2016/12/12/partners-are-the-key-to-happiness/ Public Finance International Governments urged to focus spending on wellbeing and mental health Governments should focus spending on mental health and wellbeing, researchers have argued, after a study found these are more closely linked to happiness than financial problems or poverty. The landmark study, led by Lord Richard Layard, wellbeing programme director at the London School of Economics Centre for Economic Performance, found that eliminating depression and anxiety could have four times more impact on happiness than eliminating poverty would. http://www.publicfinanceinternational.org/news/2016/12/governments-urged-focus-spending-wellbeing-and-mental-health Mashable UK This is the key to happiness and it's not what you think A study by the London School of Economics, which looked at responses from 200,000 people, found that suffering from depression or anxiety were the main causes for human misery. http://mashable.com/2016/12/12/happiness-mental-health-money-relationship/#dft11LVLuuqw Newsweek Study reveals the key to happiness - and it's not money Love is officially more important to people than money, as a study reveals being in relationship makes people happier than doubling their income. The research, published by the London School of Economics, looked at responses from 200,000 British people and identified that poor mental health posed the greatest threat to a person's contentment. The biggest dip in life satisfaction among respondents was down to depression and anxiety; unemployment resulted in a similar dip, according to the BBC. http://europe.newsweek.com/key-happiness-not-money-report-530738 The Indian Express Happiness depends on mental health, not money: study The report supports the arguments put forward by [Richard] Layard over several decades that social and psychological factors are more important to the wellbeing of individuals than income levels. http://indianexpress.com/article/lifestyle/life-style/happiness-depends-on-mental-health-not-money-study-4423929/ BBC - Türkçe The secret of happiness: mental health and relationships London School of Economics in the UK's new research, says happiness affected by the people's mental health and the presence of a partner. http://www.bbc.com/turkce/haberler-38288108 tg24Sky.IT (Italy) L'amore rende più felici dei soldi. Almeno secondo uno studio inglese/ Love makes you happier than money. At least according to an English study For the London School of Economics sentimental factors are more important than economic ones for the mental well-being of individuals. http://tg24.sky.it/tg24/salute-e-benessere/2016/12/12/amore-soldi-felicita.html See also Libero Gossip L'amore rende piu felici del denaro/Love makes you happier than money. At least according to an English study The causes of happiness- The "Origins of happiness" study was conducted by a team from the London School of Economics and will be presented in a Conference at the University of London on 12 and 13 December. http://gossip.libero.it/focus/37450888/l-amore-rende-pi%C3%83%C2%B9-felici-del-denaro/amore-denaro/?type= ABC online (Spain) Tener pareja nos hace más felices que una subida salarial/We are more happy when in a couple than when we have a rise in wages Lord Richard Layard, an economist that in its day was part of the advisory team for the Governments of Tony Blair and Gordon Brown, and a co-author of the study, believes that the State should change its approach at this time to help citizens. The results of the study show that things that matter more for our happiness and combatting discomfort are personal relationships and health: mental and physical. The State should not be so bent on the creation of wealth and should worry more about the real welfare of people. In the past the State attacked poverty, unemployment, education and health. http://www.abc.es/sociedad/abci-tener-pareja-hace-mas-felices-subida-salarial-201612121348_noticia.html City A.M. The secret to happiness? Scientists have a new theory (and it's not money) Can money buy you happiness? It's a perennial question asked by exhausted shoppers and scientists, but new research has identified two other factors with greater influence on your life satisfaction than mere money. It's mental health and having a partner which determine your happiness more than income, or even education, London School of Economics researchers have discovered. http://www.cityam.com/255447/secret-happiness-scientists-have-new-theory-and-its-not Harper's Bazaar Happiness depends on love rather than money, new study finds Whoever said money can buy happiness has just been proved wrong. Finding love has a greater impact on contentment than getting a pay rise, according to a new study. Major research by the London School of Economics examined a number of factors that contribute to a person's happiness, the BBC reports. http://www.harpersbazaar.co.uk/culture/culture-news/news/a38909/happiness-depends-on-love-not-money-lse-study/ Good Housekeeping Study has unveiled the 'key to happiness' Report co-author Prof Richard Layard told the BBC that the findings meant that the state needed to play a new role in its citizens' happiness - focusing on 'wellbeing creation' rather than 'wealth creation'. http://www.goodhousekeeping.co.uk/news/study-has-unveiled-the-key-to-happiness Yahoo! India Finding love, not money, key to a happy life A new research by London School of Economics reinforces the belief that money cannot buy you happiness -- at least as much as finding love and enjoying a good mental health can. These two factors -- being in a meaningful relationship and robust mental health -- were found to be more significant contributors to an individual's overall contentment than economic factors, including doubling one's salary, Telegraph.co.uk reported. "The evidence shows that the things that matter most for our happiness and f |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| URL | http://cep.lse.ac.uk/_new/news/programme.asp?resprog=9 |
| Description | Richard Layard gave lunchtime seminar to civil servants at DCLG on "Wellbeing and policy analysis", invited by Stephen Aldridge (October 2018) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | Richard Layard gave lunchtime seminar to civil servants at DCLG on "Wellbeing and policy analysis", invited by Stephen Aldridge (October 2018) |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Speaker: HMT/GES Seminar on Wellbeing (October 2015) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | Well-being Economics - from Theory to Practice A GES/R Event in collaboration with the Social Impacts Task Force & What Works Centre for Well-being 23rd October 2015 10:00 to 12:00 - HMT Auditorium Background The Prime Minister launched the Measuring National Well-being Programme in 2010. The clear aspiration at launch was to go beyond measurement and for the new statistics to be a means to an end for government in taking 'practical steps' to ensure our decisions are very much focussed on quality of life. Most recently the Prime Minister, at the first cabinet meeting of the new government, challenged ministers to ensure "every decision we take, every policy we pursue, every programme we start" gives everyone the best chance of "living a fulfilling and good life". But practically how do we build the wealth of research on well-being into our decision making? What are the tools we need and where are the evidence gaps? Last year the government established an independent What Works Centre to answer these questions - bringing together the best academic minds and think tanks for a three year programme. Come along to this event to learn more about the progress that is being made and to have your say on the work of the centre so that it delivers the economic and social research tools that can help you in your day job. Agenda: Introduction (Amanda Rowlatt - Chair) Session 1 - What Works for Well-being? ? Why Well-being? (Lord O'Donnell) ? What Works Centre for Well-being - How can it help the GES/R? (Dr Paul Litchfield) Panel Questions & Answers Session 2 - What Works Centre Evidence Programmes ? Cross-Cutting Evidence - Tools, Training and Guidance (Prof Richard Layard and Dr Jan-Emmanuel De Neve) ? Work, Adult Learning and Well-being (Professor Kevin Daniels) ? Sport, Culture and Well-being (Professor Paul Dolan) ? Community Well-being (Saamah Abdallah) Panel Questions & Answers Final Discussion - What would you like to see? How can the centre help you? Video - Well-being Public Dialogues (Hopkins Van Mil) |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
| Description | Strategic Fund: Workshop for the What Works Network - wellbeing over the lifecourse |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Activity: Two workshops were held to review how different organisations within the What Works network that focus on specific population groups understand wellbeing across the lifecourse and how this compares with the What Works Centre for Wellbeing's approach. The What Works Centre for Wellbeing approach was presented by the LSE team (Paul Frijitas, Lucia Macchia) and the first workshop focusing on young people was attended by the Education Endowment Foundation and Early Intervention Foundation as well as the Children's society that focus on wellbeing of young people and the core team from the What Works Centre for Wellbeing. The second workshop on older people was attended by Ageing Better and the core team. Purpose: To make sure we are being consistent across the What Works Centres with our evidence narratives of what drives wellbeing - and the drivers of wellbeing. This will feed into conversations we are having with departments in how they use the wellbeing evidence in modelling. Outcome: The agreed similarities in definitions, drivers and approach, which were distilled into a blog will enable the centres to have a consistent message and potentially lead to further joint working |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| URL | https://whatworkswellbeing.org/blog/wellbeing-across-the-lifecourse-the-big-picture/ |
| Description | Strategic Fund: Workshop to explore Local Authority use of wellbeing data |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | Activity: 16 representative from 9 different Local Authorities from England, Wales and Scotland joined the What Works Centre for Wellbeing, with researchers and the ONS to review 4 case studies on Local Authority use of wellbeing evidence. Purpose: The workshop would review the use of wellbeing evidence to set LA goals, and to inform policy and practice and test the findings of the case studies with other LAs. This would inform how the What Works Centre for Wellbeing and other What Works Centre develop and package evidence to be of most relevance for this audience. Outcome: The finds from the workshop have been written up into a draft report, which has informed the job description for the Local Authority Lead, a new PHE funded position within the What Works Centre for Wellbeing. The draft report has also been used to inform the Left Behind Places project, another project funded by the ESRC Strategic Network fund for the What Works Centres. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | The Origins of Happiness - UK Press Launch |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | Richard Layard and Andrew Clark hosted a dinner briefing for members of the press to disseminate the findings of their new book The Origins of Happiness. Attendees: David Smith (the Times); Will Hutton (Guardian); Mark Easton (BBC); Simon Jenkins (Guardian); Larry Elliot (Observer); Callum Williams (The Economist); Rishi Khosla; Minouche Shafik (LSE Director). As a result of the invitation mailout, the book garnered coverage in The FT, BBC Breakfast, The Guardian and The Times. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | The Origins of Happiness Blog, December 2016 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | Blog about the LSE OECD December Conference. Picked up by international news media (see press round up) Understanding the key determinants of people's life satisfaction will suggest policies for how best to reduce misery and promote wellbeing. This column discusses evidence from survey data on Australia, Britain, Germany, and the US which indicate that the things that matter most are people's social relationships and their mental and physical health; and that the best predictor of an adult's life satisfaction is their emotional health as a child. The authors call for a new focus for public policy: not 'wealth creation' but 'wellbeing creation'. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| URL | http://voxeu.org/article/origins-happiness |
| Description | The Origins of Happiness US Launch |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | On 6 January, Alan Kreuger (Princeton) and Layard hosted a launch of The Origins of Happiness at the Annual AEA Meeting in Philadelphia. The AEA event is attended by international academics, media and business/policy figures alike. This event attracted 55 guests across academics, LSE alumni, and the press. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| URL | https://www.aeaweb.org/conference/2018/preliminary/3257?q=eNqrVipOLS7OzM8LqSxIVbKqVkotS80rUbJSMlKq1V... |
| Description | Webinar: Introduction to the 1958 and 1970 British birth cohorts |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | On 15 May 2018, CLS hosted a webinar for new, existing and prospective users of NCDS and BCS70 data. There were 52 delegates registered for the event from across the UK and abroad. About the webinar This introductory webinar provided an overview of the 1958 National Child Development Study and the 1970 British Cohort Study, with a focus on wellbeing measures available in each cohort. It covered: study design, sweeps and samples, accessing the data, documentation, missing data, updates on what's new in each, wellbeing measures, and examples of how the wellbeing measures have been used in previous research. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Wellbeing: should we be using it to 'monetise' non market activities? What Works Wellbeing (Blog) Paul Frijters |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | https://whatworkswellbeing.org/blog/wellbeing-should-we-be-using-it-to-monetise-non-market-activities/ |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| URL | https://whatworkswellbeing.org/blog/wellbeing-should-we-be-using-it-to-monetise-non-market-activitie... |
| Description | What Works Centre for Wellbeing Mini-Conference led by Cross-Cutting Strand (Wellcome, December 2015) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Topics covered included: Common currency and its uses (Layard and De Neve) Exchange rates between currencies (A. Clark) Cost-effectiveness evaluation (Knapp) Determinants of wellbeing: overview (Powdthavee) A meeting to inform the work of the What Works Centre for Wellbeing and beyond, attended by members of the Centre and policy-makers. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
| Description | Workshop on Wellbeing over the life course: Learning from the British cohort studies |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Wellbeing research based on longitudinal data is able to provide invaluable insights into how we, as a society, can work together to improve our quality of life. This workshop aims to explore ways in which this data can be used more to inform wellbeing research in the wider community. About the workshop In partnership with the What Works Centre for Wellbeing, the Centre for Longitudinal Studies (CLS) is hosting a one-day workshop exploring the ways in which data sourced from longitudinal birth cohort studies can be used to inform wellbeing research. In addition to discovering what datasets and measures are currently available, delegates will find out about the latest research, and gain a first-hand insight into how use these datasets during a live methods and data demonstration. This workshop is open to all those interested in using cohort data to analyse wellbeing, in particular we welcome policymakers, third sector representatives and academics wanting to undertake well-being research using cohort studies. The workshop will be aimed primarily at new data users, but experienced users are also welcome. Provisional programme Chair: Heather Joshi 9:45 - 10:00 Registration and refreshments 10:00 - 10:45 Introduction Alissa Goodman, CLS & Martina Narayanan, CLS 10:45 - 11:10 Tea/coffee 11:10 - 13:00 What's new in wellbeing research using cohort studies? - What factors predict child and adult wellbeing? Praveetha Patalay, CLS & University of Liverpool - What makes a successful life? Nick Powdthavee, University of Warwick - Childhood socio-economic position and adult mental wellbeing. Mai Stafford, UCL Institute of Epidemiology & Health/Natasha Wood, MRC Unit for Lifelong Health and Ageing at UCL - Effect of childhood bereavement on wellbeing. Alison Penny, National Children's Bureau 13:00 - 14:00 Lunch 14:00 - 15:00 Option A. Methods and Data workshop with George Ploubidis and Benedetta Pongiglione. (Room TW2 4.02, LSE) Learn how to use cohort data during a live demonstration in the computer lab. 14:00 - 15:30 Option B. Research Q&A with Heather Joshi, Alissa Goodman and Praveetha Patalay. (Room 2.04, 32 Lincoln's Inn Fields, LSE) Come and ask the experts for advice regarding your research ideas. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| URL | http://www.closer.ac.uk/event/wellbeing-british-cohort-studies/ |