The United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) has published an updated set of recommendations on measuring well-being — a comprehensive indicator that covers not only economic aspects, but also social, environmental and cultural ones. The document helps countries create systems that better reflect the real quality of life of people, rather than just economic growth.
Over the past decade, governments and international organisations have increasingly recognised that GDP cannot fully describe social progress. That is why new approaches to measuring well-being focus on people’s experiences — their health, education, safety, the state of the environment and social connections.
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The UNECE recommendations were developed by the Working Group on Well-being Measurement at the Conference of European Statisticians. They are based on leading international studies, including the Stiglitz-Sen-Fitoussi report, the OECD framework concept and Eurostat quality of life indicators.
The document identifies 10 key dimensions of well-being that countries can adapt to their own context. It refers to assessing well-being “here and now” and, in a broader sense, for people living in other countries and for future generations. This approach takes into account global interconnections and the impact of domestic policies on global development.
The recommendations include practical tools for collecting, summarising and communicating data, as well as advice on setting up national well-being statistics systems. Examples of how these systems have been put into action include initiatives in Canada, Ireland, Japan, New Zealand, Portugal, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom.
Special attention is paid to disaggregated data, i.e. indicators broken down by region, gender, age or other characteristics. They help to identify inequalities that remain invisible in the overall figures and enable the creation of fairer and more effective public policies.
The UNECE also offers a roadmap with 17 practical steps for countries that are just beginning to implement well-being measurement systems. It includes setting goals, selecting indicators, collecting data, developing communication tools, and ensuring the long-term sustainability of the process.
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