The Happy Planet Index: an index of human well-being and environmental impact
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 deliver… Read more
Voices from Rural Scotland: what really matters to the people who live and work in Scotland's rural communities
This research was designed to address the following questions: ? What are the current issues of importance to people who live and work in Scotland?s rural communities? ? Why are these issues important to them? ? What are the implications for the development and implementation… Read more
Celebrating Outcomes: Celebrating the contribution of community food initiatives towards meeting national outcomes for Scotland
Across Scotland community food initiatives are achieving positive outcomes and are making a difference for local communities. Through improved access to healthy food, communities are addressing health inequalities and improving the health of individuals and families. Demonstratin… Read more
Facing up to climate change: breaking the barriers to a low-carbon Scotland - Summary Report
The Royal Society of Edinburgh?s Inquiry 'Facing up to Climate Change' began to take evidence in October 2009. This Summary Report highlights the main findings developed in the Full Report which is available at: http://www.royalsoced.org.uk/enquiries/climate_change/index.htm I… Read more
Valuing the Environmental and Employment Impacts of Renewable Energy Investments in Scotland
A report into the environmental and workforce impacts of renewable energy investment in Scotland. The Scottish Executive has set two targets for use of renewable power sources - by 2010 18% of electricity consumed should be from renewable sources; and this figure should rise to… Read more
Measuring Progress: Sustainable Development Indicators 2010
This report compiles an extensive range of economic, social and environmental indicators to provide a statistical overview of the UK's progress. They cover a wide range of topics of everyday concern such as health, housing, jobs, crime, education, and our environment, all of whi… Read more
Radical Scotland: Confronting the challenges facing Scotland's public services
This discussion paper is an independent analysis of the economic and social challenges facing Scotland?s public services, and how the radical reform of services through innovation could help to meet some of these challenges. It argues that innovation ? developing new approache… Read more
Evaluating the Success Factors for Establishing a Thriving Social Enterprise in Scotland
The aim of this study was to understand the characteristics that are fundamental to the success and resilience of social enterprises, and the ways in which these characteristics might be encouraged and supported more widely in Scotland. In particular, the objectives of the st… Read more
World Values Survey 1981-2008
The World Values Survey (WVS) is a worldwide network of social scientists studying changing values and their impact on social and political life. The WVS in collaboration with EVS (European Values Study) carried out representative national surveys in 97 societies containing almos… Read more
Community Empowerment: Critical Perspectives from Scotland
This publication consists of twelve theoretical texts. The theme that unites them is a concern about the meaning, politics, possibilities and practices of empowerment. As these contributors demonstrate, community empowerment is neither an unproblematic idea nor necessarily an unm… Read more