All Party Parliamentary Group on Wellbeing Economics

A great event on wellbeing across the UK

wellbeingeconomics — Tue, 09 Apr 2013 11:19:32 +0000

Our latest event was loosely based on some of the analysis of the new subjective wellbeing data collected by the Office for National Statistics. This data has shown, for example, that the highest levels of wellbeing are found on the small islands of the British Isles, and the lowest levels of wellbeing are found in London and the Welsh Valleys. These regional differences persist even when levels of deprivation have been taken into account. The panel discussed why there are clear differences in the levels of subjective wellbeing reported across the UK, and what policy-makers might be able to do about it.

Speakers:
- Sir Robin Wales, Mayor of the London Borough of Newham
- Dr George Kavetsos, London School of Economics
- Councillor Jim Hakewill, Kettering Borough Council

Chair:
- David Lammy MP

A recording of the panel speeches can be found here. Unfortunately, owing to a technical fault only the first two panel contributions were recorded. The powerpoint presentation of the third speaker, Jim Hakewill, can be found here

David Lammy MP new Chair of the APPG Wellbeing Economics

wellbeingeconomics — Fri, 23 Nov 2012 12:52:58 +0000

On November 20 2012, David Lammy was voted the new Chair of the APPG on Wellbeing Economics. David is the MP for Tottenham and served 9 years (2001-10) as a Minister in the last Labour government. You can find out more about David here: http://www.davidlammy.co.uk/

Clip of Jo Swinson MP’s talk at the Business Well-being Network Conference 2011

wellbeingeconomics — Thu, 23 Aug 2012 10:33:40 +0000

In December 2011, Jo Swinson MP, the Chair of the APPG on Wellbeing Economics spoke at the Business Well-Being Network annual conference in London. She gave and overview of the Office of National Statistic’s work on measuring wellbeing; gave examples of policies that could boost wellbeing in the workplace; and highlighted evidence that boosting wellbeing had positive knock-on effects for business productivity.

Here is a clip of part of the speech.

‘Lessons from Costa Rica? Topping the Happy Planet Index’ Speaker Meeting, Thursday 12th July

wellbeingeconomics — Thu, 28 Jun 2012 14:20:13 +0000

On Thursday 12^th July, the APPG on Wellbeing Economics will be holding a speaker meeting: ‘Lessons from Costa Rica? Topping the Happy Planet Index’.

The event is open to the public and you are very welcome to attend.

Please RSVP using the following link: www.appgwbeconomics.eventbrite.co.uk.

As you may know, the New Economics Foundation recently published its ‘Happy Planet Index’ which ranks countries according to their wellbeing and environmental sustainability. For the second time running, Costa Rica has topped the table.

Given that the Rio 20+ conference concluded that sustainable development goals can only be achieved where populations can reach a state of physical, mental and social well-being, this is something that we should all take note of.

We have an eminent panel including:

Her Excellency Ms Pilar Saborio de Rocafort, Costa Rican Ambassador to the UK.
Juliet Michaelson, Senior Researcher at the Centre for Well-being at nef (the new economics foundation), and co-author of The Happy Planet Index: 2012 Report
Séverine Deneulin: Lecturer in international development at the University of Bath.

The panellists will discuss how Costa Rica manages combine such high levels of wellbeing and such low environmental impact, and what the lessons are for the UK. After each panellist has spoken, there will then be the chance to put your questions to them in a Q&A session.
The full details of the event are:

Lessons from Costa Rica? Topping the Happy Planet Index

2:15pm-3:30pm, Thursday 12^th July

Committee Room 11

Speakers: Pilar Saborio de Rocafort, Juliet Michelson, Séverine Deneulin

Chair: Baroness Claire Tyler

If you wish to attend, please RSVP using the following link: www.appgwbeconomics.eventbrite.co.uk.

Recording of Meeting “Happy Workers = Business Growth?”

wellbeingeconomics — Tue, 22 May 2012 13:52:44 +0000

Last week the APPG on Wellbeing Economics held a meeting to explore whether promoting employee wellbeing could boost workplace productivity. You can listen to a recording of the event here: http://www.nef-consulting.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/Well-being%20APPG%20May%202012.mp3

“Happy Workers = Business Growth?” – Thursday 17th May

wellbeingeconomics — Fri, 04 May 2012 08:29:05 +0000

The next APPG on Wellbeing Economics event will be held on Thursday 17th May, in Committee Room 1, Houses of Parliament, Westminster, SW1A 0AA.

We have an expert panel to discuss whether promoting the wellbeing of employees helps increase workplace productivity.

Our panelists are:

- Tony Hsieh: CEO of $1billion company Zappos.com and New York Times bestselling author of ‘Delivering Happiness’.
- Nic Marks: Founder of the Centre for Wellbeing at the New Economics Foundation.
- Paul Litchfield: Chief Medical Officer at BT.

The full details of the event are:

“Happy Workers = Business Growth?”
2:45-4:00pm, Thursday 17th May

Committee Room 11, Houses of Parliament, Westminster, SW1A 0AA
Speakers: Tony Hsieh, Nic Marks, Paul Litchfield
Chair: Jo Swinson MP

The meeting is open to the public; however, spaces may be limited. If you wish to attend, please RSVP by emailing laura.stoll@neweconomics.org

Please feel free to Tweet the link to this page http://bit.ly/ohmcPo

Podcast of ‘Is Economic Growth Essential for Wellbeing?’

wellbeingeconomics — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 15:04:33 +0000

Last week the APPG on Wellbeing Economics held a speaker meeting to expore whether economic growth was essential for wellbeing. A recording of speeches from the panel can be found here: http://soundcloud.com/neweconomicsfoundation/is-economic-growth-essential#new-timed-comment-at-1846996

Is economic growth essential for wellbeing? Speaker Meeting – Tuesday 31st January

wellbeingeconomics — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 12:57:15 +0000

The next APPG on Wellbeing Economics speaker meeting will be held on Tuesday 31^st January, in the Grand Committee Room, Westminster Hall, Houses of Parliament, Westminster, SW1A 0AA.

We have an eminent panel who will discuss whether economic growth is essential to our wellbeing in the short and long-term; whether it is possible to move to a new economic model where growth, as currently understood, becomes unnecessary; and how we could we achieve greater wellbeing under such a model.

Our panelists will be:

- Tim Jackson: Professor of Sustainable Development at the University of Surrey and the author of ‘Prosperity Without Growth”

- Anna Coote: Head of social policy for the new economics foundation, and lead author of the nef publication, ‘21 hours: Why a shorter working week can help us all to flourish in the 21st century’.

- David Skelton: Deputy Director of the think tank ‘Policy Exchange’

PLEASE NOTE: Unfortuantely, Lord Robert Skidelsky, who was previously billed to speak is now unable to attend due to unforeseen scheduling problems.

The full details of the event are:

“Is economic growth essential for wellbeing?”
3:30-4:45pm, Tuesday 31^st January
Grand Committee Room, Westminster Hall,
Houses of Parliament, Westminster, SW1A 0AA.
Speakers: Professor Tim Jackson, Anna Coote, David Skelton
Chair: Jo Swinson MP

The meeting is open to the public; however, spaces may be limited. If you wish to attend, please RSVP by clicking here.

Please feel free to Tweet the link to this page http://bit.ly/ohmcPo

Podcast of Sir Gus O’Donnell’s Speech

wellbeingeconomics — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 15:53:49 +0000

Last week the APPG on Wellbeing Economics held a lively speaker meeting with the Head of the Civil Service, Sir Gus O’Donnell. A recording of Sir Gus’s speech can be found here: http://soundcloud.com/neweconomicsfoundation/sir-gus-odonnell-on-well-being

Speaker Meeting – Sir Gus O’Donnell, Head of Civil Service – Wednesday 2nd November

wellbeingeconomics — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 16:31:16 +0000

The next APPG on Wellbeing Economics speaker meeting will be held on Wednesday 2nd November, 2:30–3:30pm, in the Boothroyd Room, Portcullis House, Bridge Street, Westminster, SW1A 2LW

Our guest speaker will be Sir Gus O’Donnell, the Head of the UK’s Civil Service. Sir Gus will be giving a talk on how the insights from wellbeing research could be used by civil servants across government departments to help design and evaluate policy. Following the talk you will have a chance to put your questions to Gus in what is likely to be a lively Q&A session.

The full details of the event are:

“Wellbeing Statistics: How Will Whitehall Respond?”

2:30pm-3:30pm, Wednesday 2nd November
Boothroyd Room, Portcullis House, Bridge Street, SW1A 2LW
Guest Speaker: Sir Gus O’Donnell
Chair: Jo Swinson MP

The meeting is open to the public; however, spaces may be limited. If you wish to attend, please RSVP by clicking here http://appg-wb.eventbrite.com
Please feel free to Tweet the link to this page http://bit.ly/ohmcPo