Wellbeing in four policy areas

The All Party Parliamentary Group on Wellbeing Economics has published its first report, the result of a year-long inquiry exploring how wellbeing evidence can be translated into policy in four diverse areas of labour markets, planning and transport, mindfulness in health and education, and arts and culture.

Key recommendations from the report include:

• Focus on stable jobs over growth - More than half the UK workforce is worried about losing their jobs, with disastrous consequences for their wellbeing and productivity. Sickness leave alone costs an estimated £100billion a year. Secure, stable employment should be the primary focus of economic policy.
• More green spaces in our cities - Planning processes have lost sight of their original mission to improve community wellbeing. Restoring this would transform local areas, with considerable economic benefits. City liveability is a major consideration for big employers, while encouraging residents to take up walking or cycling could save the NHS £675million a year.
• Mindfulness training for doctors and teachers - Mental health problems cost the UK economy an estimated £70billion annually. Training new medical and teaching staff in mindfulness techniques would embed a culture of wellbeing in health and education, and reduce a later burden on the NHS by improving the availability of mindfulness-based therapies.
• Invest in arts and culture - Wellbeing evidence gives a robust means of measuring the value of non-market goods. Arts and culture play an important part in all our lives, and wellbeing data will help make the case for spending in these areas.

To download the full report visit http://parliamentarywellbeinggroup.org.uk/2014/09/11/publication-of-report-wellbeing-in-four-policy-areas.