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The nation's wellbeing is set to be measured for the government from next April so that ministers can help the nation attain "the good life", the prime minister has said.
David Cameron announced a £2m national consultation on how to measure Britain's well-being, arguing that economic growth is "an incomplete way of measuring a country's progress".
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) will lead the debate on what matters most to people, a process which is likely to involve a mixture of questioning people and studying improvements in health, education and the local environment.
Launching the consultation, Cameron said: "From April next year we will start measuring our progress as a country not just by how our economy is growing, but by how our lives are improving, not just by our standard of living, but by our quality of life."
The prime minister dismissed the idea that the new measure means the government is taking an eye off what he called his government's key task: "to get the economy moving, create jobs and spread opportunity to everyone."
"We'll continue to measure GDP as we've always done," he said. "But it is high time we admitted that, taken on its own, GDP is an incomplete way of measuring a country's progress."
Quoting former US senator Robert Kennedy, who described how GDP "measures everything... except that which makes life worthwhile", Cameron said the information gathered would help Britain re-evaluate its priorities in life.
The prime minister was joined by the National Statistician and head of the ONS Jill Matheson who will be tasked with including questions which can gauge happiness and "life goals" on the survey already put to households.
The UK is not the only country looking at ways of evaluation well-being, French president Nicolas Sarkozy has also announced similar plans.
And the World Bank, European Commission, United Nations, and Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development have all made the same commitment.
Article Comments
As a charity working with neglected young people within their local communities, Action for Children welcomes the government's commitment to measuring 'well-being' and its recognition that economic growth alone will not bring about happiness.
Our Growing Strong campaign research shows clearly the impact of poor emotional well-being on children and families across the UK. It can make groups vulnerable and neglected as well as having detrimental effects throughout society. It is crucial that views are sought, especially from young people. While we welcome a well-being 'index', investment in early intervention services is crucial if we are to improve children's and families' resilience and well-being. They are needed now more than ever in the current tough economic climate.
Helen Donohoe, Action for Children, director of public policy
25th Nov 2010 at 4:55 pm
Dods Parliamentary Communications Ltd
Denise Baden
24th Feb 2011 at 10:26 am