Measuring wellbeing : towards sustainability? / Karen Scott.

"Improving wellbeing and sustainability are central goals of government, but are they in conflict? This book reviews that question and its implications for public policy through a focus on indicators. It highlights tensions between various constructs of wellbeing and sustainable development, and between current individual and societal notions of wellbeing. Recommending a clearer conceptual framework for policy makers regarding different wellbeing constructs which would facilitate more transparent discussions; it argues against a win-win scenario of wellbeing and sustainability but advocates a power sensitive trade off approach based on debating values. Measuring Wellbeing is divided into two clear parts; the first part provides a critical review of the field, drawing widely on international research but contextualised within recent UK wellbeing policy discourses. The second part embeds the theory in a case study based on the author's own experience of trying to develop quality of life indicators within a local authority, against the backdrop of increasing national policy interest in "happiness". This book will help shape debates in newly developing wellbeing policy arenas. Through a consideration of discourse, politics and power, it addresses the disciplinary gaps in current wellbeing policy debate. This accessible and informative book will appeal to students, academics and policy makers interested in wellbeing, sustainable development, indicators, public policy, participation, localism, community, power and discourse."-- Provided by publisher.

"Improving wellbeing and sustainability are central goals of government, but are they in conflict? This book reviews that question and its implications for public policy through a focus on indicators. It highlights tensions between various constructs of wellbeing and sustainable development, and between current individual and societal notions of wellbeing. Recommending a clearer conceptual framework for policy makers regarding different wellbeing constructs which would facilitate more transparent discussions, it argues against a win-win scenario of wellbeing and sustainability but advocates a power sensitive trade off approach based on debating values. Measuring Wellbeing is divided into two clear parts; the first part provides a critical review of the field, drawing widely on international research but contextualised within recent UK wellbeing policy discourses. The second part embeds the theory in a case study based on the author's own experience of trying to develop quality of life indicators within a local authority, against the backdrop of increasing national policy interest in 'happiness'. This book will help shape debates in newly developing wellbeing policy arenas. Through a consideration of discourse, politics and power, it addresses the disciplinary gaps in current wellbeing policy debate. This accessible and informative book will appeal to students, academics and policy makers interested in wellbeing, sustainable development, indicators, public policy, participation, localism, community, power and discourse"-- Provided by publisher.

New York : Routledge, 2012.

ix, 210 pages ; 24 cm

Introduction: the death of economics and the rise of wellbeing -- Human wellbeing and quality of life -- Sustainable wellbeing: an oxymoron? -- Leave it to the people? Power and participation -- The role of indicators: knowledge, rationality and public policy -- Case study of Blyth Valley Borough Council: background and context -- Defining 'local' wellbeing discourse and debate -- Developing a wellbeing framework -- Moving towards measurements? -- Towards sustainability: developing a common sense of wellbeing -- Appendixes: A. Audit commission list of local quality of life indicators 2005 -- B. Martha Nussbaum's set of central human capabilities -- C. Mapping exercise.

Includes bibliographical references and index.