A discussion paper examined the reasons for an apparently widespread sense of dissatisfaction by people about their quality of life, despite economic and technological progress.
Source: Richard Reeves, The Politics of Happiness, New Economics Foundation (020 7820 6300)
Links: Report (pdf)
Date: 2003-Nov
A study examined the quality of life of people aged 15-35 living in eight cities. Participants were asked for their views on issues such as public transport, retail and sporting facilities, cleanliness and entertainment.
Source: Urban Behaviours project run by Henley Management College (01491 571454) and Teleconomy, reported in The Guardian, 20 November 2003
Links: Guardian report | BBC news report | Early findings
Date: 2003-Nov
A report described cases where councils were making use of powers under the Local Government Act 2000 to take action that 'promotes or improves the social, economic and environmental well-being of their area'.
Source: Hilary Kitchin (ed.), Doing the Future: Councils respond to new priorities, Local Government Information Unit, available from Central Books (0845 458 9910)
Links: LGIU press release | Times report
Date: 2003-Sep
A report said that existing levels of consumption could not be maintained, and would increasingly lead to greater inequality, environmental damage and debt-driven insecurity.
Source: Tim Jackson and Laurie Michaelis, Policies for Sustainable Consumption, Sustainable Development Commission (020 7944 4964)
Links: Report | SDC press release
Date: 2003-Sep
A new book said that new technology, fear of crime and a tyranny of choice were eroding people s quality of life, despite considerable material gains.
Source: Michael Willmott and William Nelson, Complicated Lives: Sophisticated consumers, intricate lifestyles, simple solutions, Wiley Europe, available from Future Foundation (020 7250 3343)
Links: Summary
Date: 2003-Aug
An official advisory body called on the government to rethink the dominance of economic growth as the principal driving force in modern politics, and to take urgent action to improve true quality of life for all citizens.
Source: Redefining Prosperity: Resource productivity, economic growth and sustainable development, Sustainable Development Commission (020 7944 4964)
Links: Report (pdf) | SDC press release
Date: 2003-Jun
The report was published of a project which explored people's understanding of the term well-being , and how the capacity to promote it could be developed by community groups and people working in health and community services.
Source: Building Community Well-Being: Exploration of themes and issues, Scottish Executive, TSO (0870 606 5566)
Links: Report | Summary | SE press release
Date: 2003-Jun
An article described a new United Kingdom-wide pilot social accounting matrix (SAM). SAM linked together the (mainly) macrostatistics of national accounts with the (mainly) micro-statistics of the labour market and of households to show the inter-relationships between economic and social statistics. To achieve this, statistics from household surveys had to be integrated into the national accounts framework, which required the adoption of common units, definitions and classifications.
Source: Nigel Stuttard, 'Developing a pilot Social Accounting Matrix for the United Kingdom', Economic Trends, May 2003, Office for National Statistics, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Article (pdf)
Date: 2003-May
A new book on the financial aspects of welfare reviewed the economic case for public social services, and examined the economic and political limits to taxation; analysed the limits to markets as a way of meeting basic human needs; explored practical ways in which hospitals, schools and other social agencies were funded; and examined the theory and practice of rationing scarce resources and the public expenditure process.
Source: Howard Glennerster, Understanding the Finance of Welfare: What welfare costs and how to pay for it, Policy Press, available from Marston Book Services (01235 465500)
Links: Summary
Date: 2003-May
A report tracked the development of quality of life indicators, and looked at how they could be given a more central role in influencing policy. It said that fewer than half of all local authorities in England and Wales had used the indicators, and that there were examples of authorities starting to use them and then discarding them.
Source: Sarah Higginson, Florian Sommer and Alan Terry, Making Indicators Count: Using quality of life indicators in local governance, New Economics Foundation, available from Central Books (020 8986 5488)
Links: Report (Word file)
Date: 2003-Apr
A report was published of a project aimed at exploring the extent of relative and absolute change in a range of health and well-being measures for small geographical areas across Scotland.
Source: Geographical and Time Trend Analyses: Questionnaire survey of selected public organisations in Scotland, Public Health Institute of Scotland (0141 300 1010)
Links: Report (pdf) | Summary (pdf)
Date: 2003-Mar
A leading academic argued the case for making the promotion of happiness as the prime purpose of public policy. He highlighted the value of lower unemployment; safer communities; more harmonious relationships; and much more widely available mental health treatment.
Source: Richard Layard, Happiness: Has Social Science a Clue?, Lionel Robbins Memorial Lectures 2002-03, available from Centre for Economic Performance/London School of Economics (020 7955 7673)
Links: Lecture 1 (pdf) | Lecture 2 (pdf) | Lecture 3 (pdf) | Guardian report
Date: 2003-Mar
The government published its third annual report on sustainable development issues. It recorded progress in 2002 on 15 headline indicators - the 'quality of life' barometer. The government said 'good progress' had been achieved in a number of key areas, including housing conditions, employment and land use. Launching the report, the Prime Minister reiterated his commitment to placing sustainable development at the heart of government policy-making, and set out the case for a new international consensus to tackle key issues of sustainable development, such as climate change. Environmental campaigners warned the government over trends in carbon dioxide emissions, road traffic levels and household waste.
Source: Achieving a Better Quality of Life: Review of progress towards sustainable development - Government annual report 2002, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (08459 556000) | Speech by Tony Blair MP, Prime Minister, 24 February 2003 | Press release 24 February 2003, Friends of the Earth (020 7490 1555)
Links: Report (pdf) | Report | Defra press release | Text of Blair speech | FOE press release
Date: 2003-Feb
The Labour Party issued a consultation document on its policies for promoting a better quality of life (in particular through environmental measures).
Source: Enhancing the Quality of Life, Labour Party (08705 900200)
Links: Consultation Document (pdf)
Date: 2003-Jan
A report summarised research on what makes people satisfied with their lives, and suggested how this research may be useful for policy-makers.
Source: Nick Donovan and David Halpern with Richard Sargeant, Life Satisfaction: The state of knowledge and implications for government, Strategy Unit/Cabinet Office (020 7276 1881)
Links: Report (pdf)
Date: 2003-Jan