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'Can't complain'

Defra have included a provisional list of 'wellbeing measures' in a recently published set of sustainability indicators.

Fear of crime
  - Perceptions of anti-social behaviour
Workless households
Childhood poverty
Pensioner poverty
Education
Healthy life expectancy
  - Self-reported general health
  - Self-reported long-standing illness
Mortality rates (suicide)
  - Mortality rates for those with severe mental illness
Accessibility
Social justice
Environmental equality
Housing conditions
Satisfaction with local area
  - Trust in people in neighbourhood
  - Influencing decisions in the local area
Wellbeing
  - Overall life satisfaction
  - Satisfaction with aspects of life
  - Frequency of feelings or activities which may have a positive or negative impact on wellbeing
  - Level of participation in sport
  - Access to greenspace
  - Level of participation in cultural activities
  - Positive mental health

The document acknowledges that there is quite a bit more work to do. I'd say this list seems a bit weak on personal and social relationships - friendship, friendliness, neighbourliness, and 'sense of community.' But according to a survey summarised in the Guardian,

While over 85% of those questioned were satisfied with their relationships, less than 65% were satisfied with feeling part of a community.

Also: New Economics Foundation press release on the Happy Planet Index.

Posted by Kevin Harris on August 13, 2007 at 09:52 AM | Permalink

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