H A P P I N E S S - A G O A L

F O R R U R A L P O L I C Y ?

Paul Courtney

Professor of Social Economy

CCRI

H A P P I N E S S

….as a driver of policy

Definition

Measurement

Implementation

H A P P I N E S S….as a driver of policy

1. Rural policy

is too

focussed on

growth

2. Growth is

causing

unhappiness and

inequality

3. Barriers to

focusing rural

policy around

Happiness can be

overcome

Definition

Measurement

Implementation

Q: Should a government’s prime objective be

achieving the greatest happiness for its

people, as opposed to the greatest wealth?

A: Yes 80%, No 20%

..a representative sample of Britons, 2005

In Dorset, Cornwall and Cumbria, a third of

people rated their life satisfaction between 9

and 10

A quarter of Londoners reported having high

levels of anxiety

England, 2013

A Rural Life…

¬ Hidden deprivation is significant

¬ Farmers account for the largest numbers of suicides

¬Loneliness is a growing problem in rural areas

¬Voluntary sector is under strain

¬ Many Young people are not in education, training or employment

R U R A L S T A T E M E N T 2 0 1 2D E F R A

‘We have made economic growth our top priority’

Rural Development Programme 2014-20 socio-

economic measures

• Rural and investment Programme - Business Growth

• LEADER - Jobs and Growth

• Countryside Productivity- Farming and Forestry

T H E T R O U B L E W I T H G R O W T H

Values -

Growth is not in the interests of social and

environmental sustainability

Psychology -

Growth is not making us any happier because of

our deep rooted psychology

Inequality -

Growth is causing increasing inequality,

exacerbated through leverage and QE programmes

G D P V S H A P P I N E S S

Source: Gustave Speth (2008)

W H A T M A K E S U S H A P P Y ?

Family Relationships

Family Income

Secure Job

Community and Trust

Feeling Healthy

Personal Freedom

Belief in God

Source: Layard (2009)

From breathing clean air..

…to getting our five a day

P L E A S U R E A N D P U R P O S EAve. Pleasure

Ave. Purpose

• Volunteering

• Housework

• Time with kids

Source: Dolan (2014)

• Commuting

• Eating

• Working

L O C A L F O O D P R O G R A M M E :

W H E R E I S T H E V A L U E ?

0

10

20

30

40

Foodaffordability

Education& Skills

Communityvibrancy

PhyiscalHealth

SubjectiveWell being

LocalEconomy

Food affordability 2%

Training and education 8%

Community Vibrancy 26%

Physical health 24%

Mental health and well being 38%

Local economy and enterprise 2%

HAPPINESS STRICTLY PROHIBITED

Overcoming the barriers..

D E F I N I T I O N

Economics (Evaluating self) -

- Subjective Well being:

Evaluative Accounts - How we think and feel

Psychology (Experiencing self) -

SWB - Moods or feelings of joy/elation

Life Satisfaction - Qualities/circumstances of life

Absence of anxiety and depression - Prerequisite

M E A S U R E M E N T

E V A L U A T I N G -

S E L F

E X P E R I E N C I N G -

S E L F

P O L I C Y

E V A L U A T I O N

E V A L U A T I O N S O F

H O W W E W A N T O U R

L I F E T O B E , O R W H A T

W E T H I N K M A K E S U S

H A P P Y

P O L I C Y D E S I G N

E T H N O G R A P H I C

E X P L O R A T O R Y

T R I A N G U L A T I O N

D A Y

R E C O N S T R U C T I O N

M E T H O D ( D R M ) W I T H

P L E A S U R E / P U R P O S E

I M P L E M E N T A T I O N

M E N T A L

H E A L T HC O M M U N I T Y

I N C O M E A N D

W O R KG O V E R N A N C E

O N A P A R W I T H

P H Y S I C A L

H E A L T H

P R O M O T E

V O L U N T E E R I N G

P R O M O T E

E C O N O M I C

G R O W T H

E M P O W E R M E N T &

R E S P E C T

S U P P O R T

P A R E N T SA D D R E S S

L O N E L I N E S S

R E D U C E

U N E M P L O Y M E N T

S U P P O R T

H A P P I N E S S

R E S E A R C H

B U I L D

R E S I L I E N C E I N

S C H O O L S

S O C I A B L E &

G R E E N

E N V I R O N M E N T S

W E L L - B E I N G A T

W O R KS H A R E T H E D A T A !

Source: O’Donnell et al (2014)

H A P P I N E S S -

A G O A L F O R R U R A L P O L I C Y

Thanks for listening

pcourtney@glos.ac.uk

www.ccri.ac.uk