j.p.roos university of helsinki social indicators revisited j p roos department of social policy,...

J.P.Roos University of HelsinkiJ.P.Roos University of Helsinki

Social indicators Social indicators revisitedrevisited

J P RoosJ P Roos

Department of Social Policy, Department of Social Policy, University of HelsinkiUniversity of Helsinki


Previous attemptsPrevious attempts

UNRISD Jan DrewnowskiUNRISD Jan Drewnowski Level of Living Study Sten JohanssonLevel of Living Study Sten Johansson Having-loving-being Erik AllardtHaving-loving-being Erik Allardt Happiness research Ruut VeenhovenHappiness research Ruut Veenhoven And many more (even my thesis And many more (even my thesis

1973)...1973)...


New impetus for changeNew impetus for change

global warming and other drastic global warming and other drastic environmental changes require indicators environmental changes require indicators which not only measure economic which not only measure economic development but also its consequencesdevelopment but also its consequences

it is even clearer now than 40 years ago it is even clearer now than 40 years ago that the GNP is a very misleading indicator that the GNP is a very misleading indicator of human developmentof human development

Becoming more rich is very harmful, Becoming more rich is very harmful, especially when there are too many rich especially when there are too many rich people!people!


Theoretical backgroundTheoretical background

Maslowian need hierarchy was most Maslowian need hierarchy was most commoncommon

Fell in disrepute because in sociology we Fell in disrepute because in sociology we believe that needs socially constructed believe that needs socially constructed

However, this is not true: there IS a However, this is not true: there IS a universal human nature and needs have universal human nature and needs have limits (or continuous fulfilling of them limits (or continuous fulfilling of them causes harm)causes harm)

The social constructionist thinking quite The social constructionist thinking quite harmfulharmful


ExamplesExamples

Alcohol use: good in small quantitiesAlcohol use: good in small quantities Tourism: very harmful if not Tourism: very harmful if not

containedcontained Mobile phones: a need that always Mobile phones: a need that always

has existed!has existed! Snowmobiles: a good indicator of Snowmobiles: a good indicator of

what can happen if everybody who what can happen if everybody who can afford it can buy and use itcan afford it can buy and use it


Four worldsFour worlds

A very good distinctionA very good distinction We should strive to reach the Real We should strive to reach the Real

paradise and avoid Real hellparadise and avoid Real hell But this is always a mix in real lifeBut this is always a mix in real life Example: Kerala Why do people Example: Kerala Why do people

seem to be so happy there?seem to be so happy there?


Acceptability criteria and Acceptability criteria and GNPGNP

Is it relevant YESIs it relevant YES Easy to understand NO Easy to understand NO Reliable and valid YesReliable and valid Yes Politically unbiased Yes?Politically unbiased Yes? Easy to obtain and update YesEasy to obtain and update Yes Comparable YesComparable Yes Objective or subjective NOObjective or subjective NO Positive or negative NOPositive or negative NO A constituent/determinant of wellbeing YES and NOA constituent/determinant of wellbeing YES and NO Attributable to individuals or groups YESAttributable to individuals or groups YES Obtained through open, transparent process NOObtained through open, transparent process NO Contibutes to coherent and comprehensive view of Contibutes to coherent and comprehensive view of

wellbeing NOwellbeing NO


HappinessHappiness

Very insensitiveVery insensitive No change over timeNo change over time Difficult to compareDifficult to compare We need a composite index here, tooWe need a composite index here, too I.e. A battery of ten questions I.e. A battery of ten questions

relevant to happinessrelevant to happiness


Well-being and MiseryWell-being and Misery

We need measures of well being and We need measures of well being and misery which react to economic and misery which react to economic and social changes sensitivelysocial changes sensitively

Poverty and misery can increase Poverty and misery can increase together with economic growthtogether with economic growth

Finland a good example: lowering of Finland a good example: lowering of the alcohol price caused 2000 deaths the alcohol price caused 2000 deaths (and a lot of misery)!(and a lot of misery)!


Alternatives?Alternatives?

Concentrate on poverty and misery: Concentrate on poverty and misery: this is the real task of social policy!this is the real task of social policy!

I.e alleviate Real and Fools’ Hells!I.e alleviate Real and Fools’ Hells! Develop very sensitive indicators of Develop very sensitive indicators of

well being, whose movements can be well being, whose movements can be traced to actual policiestraced to actual policies

Follow cumulative changes, not Follow cumulative changes, not changes over timechanges over time


I think this is a useful idea:I think this is a useful idea:

Follow regularly what has happened to Follow regularly what has happened to people’s well-being people’s well-being

Count increases and decreases and Count increases and decreases and their importancetheir importance

Well-being does not change much Well-being does not change much over time but it is much better if we over time but it is much better if we have had more positive than negative have had more positive than negative events!events!

Eventually a life history prespective!Eventually a life history prespective!


Thanks to Alex and Jussi for Thanks to Alex and Jussi for very inspiring papers!very inspiring papers!

j.p.roos university of helsinki social indicators revisited j p roos department of social policy,...

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