Update on ONS Wellbeing Programme - Rob Warner, ONS

Slide 1: 

Measuring what matters

Slide 2: 

‘ Statistics are the bedrock of democracy, in a country where we care about what is happening. We must measure what matters - the key elements of national well-being. We want to develop measures based on what people tell us matters most.’ Jil Matheson, National Statistician, November 25 2010

Aim of the ONS Measuring National Well-being Programme is to develop and publish:: 

Aim of the ONS Measuring National Well-being Programme is to develop and publish: an accepted and trusted set of National Statistics which help people to understand and monitor national well-being

Sharing a common international goal: 

Sharing a common international goal Commission on the Measurement of Economic Performance and Social Progress

Big questions:: 

Big questions: What is national well-being? What matters? How can it be measured? Who will use the measures and for what?

The debate: 

The debate Debate ran between November 2010 and April 2011, asking ‘what matters to you?’ Held 175 events around the country attended by over 7,000 people Generated over 34,000 responses from online forums and other channels Helped identify key areas that matter most

What matters?: 

What matters? Health Relationships Work Environment Education and training Common underlying themes of fairness and equality

Commonly used words in the debate: 

Commonly used words in the debate

What people said: 

‘My faith’ ‘Free access to green spaces free of litter and noise and pollution’ ‘The well-being of my family and friends. Good coffee and tea. Nice food. Good books and music. Sleep. Many things matter to me’ ‘A fair and just society’ ‘A collective sense of purpose.’ What people said

What have we learned?: 

What have we learned? Individual well-being Objective measures e.g. employment status, Subjective measures e.g. happiness Locality e.g. availability of green space, strength of community involvement Equity e.g. how well circumstances, experiences and feelings distributed across society Sustainability How well current levels of well-being can be sustained into future or between generations National well-being is:

What have we learned?: 

What have we learned? Defra Sustainable Development Indicators ‘Measuring Scotland’s Progress’ Measuring children’s and young people’s well-being People who do not live in ‘households’ Important to build on range of existing work across government and academia: Approaches to measuring subjective well-being Measuring national well-being

How will we measure well-being?: 

How will we measure well-being? Framework which reflects the underlying concepts Domains and dimensions identified Measures proposed Iterative consultation to test and refine indicators

Work already underway: 

Work already underway Inclusion of questions on subjective well-being in the ONS Integrated Household Survey (IHS) from April 2011 Collaboration with international organisations and other countries Working with others including policy makers and academics

Subjective well-being questions in Integrated Household Survey April 2011 (c 200,000 pa): 

Subjective well-being questions in Integrated Household Survey April 2011 (c 200,000 pa) Scale 0 -10 Overall, how satisfied are you with your life nowadays? Overall, how happy did you feel yesterday? Overall, how anxious did you feel yesterday? Overall, to what extent do you feel the things you do in your life are worthwhile?

What will measures be used for?: 

What will measures be used for? Public interest compare how different groups and areas are doing compare the UK with other countries Policy backdrop and framework for policy development policy evaluation to take account of impact on well-being National well-being measures

What next?: 

What next? National well-being measures published Autumn 2011 First annual experimental statistics on subjective well-being July 2012 (interim earlier) On-going engagement with public and partners

Supplementary papers: 

Supplementary papers Findings from the national well-being debate http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/guide-method/well-being/wellbeing/understanding-wellbeing/findings-from-the-national-well-being-debate.pdf Developing a framework for understanding and measuring national well-being http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/guide-method/well-being/wellbeing/understanding-wellbeing/developing-a-framework-for-understanding-and-measuring-national-well-being.pdf Measuring children’s and young people’s well-being http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/guide-method/well-being/wellbeing/understanding-wellbeing/measuring-children-s-and-young-people-s-well-being.pdf Measuring subjective well-being Measuring economic well-being http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/guide-method/well-being/wellbeing/understanding-wellbeing/measuring-economic-well-being.pdf