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  • The Happy Planet Index: an index of human well-being and environmental impact

The Happy Planet Index: an index of human well-being and environmental impact

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The Evidence Library is a resource for anyone interested in the voluntary sector in Scotland. Managed by SCVO, the library signposts to research and evidence produced by, or on, the voluntary sector. For further information email: research@scvo.org.uk.

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2009-03-22
  • Economy
  • Environment
  • Europe & International
  • Mental Health
  • Sustainable Development
  • Social Capital & Well Being
  • Facts & Figures
Year of publication
2006
Author
Marks, N.; Simms, A,; Thompson, S.; Abdallah, S.
Abstract

This report is the first Happy Planet Index which was published in 2006. A second report, also catalogued in the Evidence Library, was published in 2009. The Happy Planet Index (HPI) is a measure that claims to show the ecological efficiency with which human well-being is delivered. It differs markedly from the central indicator of national income usually referred to by commentators, and relied on by governments to measure their success - Gross Domestic Product (GDP). It also has a different rationale to the various alternative indicators that begin with GDP and then subtract social and environmental costs to create a more accurate measure of economic success. The HPI report uses a simple traffic light scheme of data coding between countries. It is able, for example, to examine differences in social capital between nine pairs of countries with similar GDP, UN-rated Human Development Index (HDI), life expectancy and ecological footprint. This is achieved by comparing subjective ratings of life satisfaction with a commonly used indicator of social capital - the percentage of people taking part in associational life (Putnam 1993).

 
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