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Social indicators revisited

In an era marked by climate change and social disparities, traditional indicators like GNP fall short in reflecting genuine human development. J.P. Roos from the University of Helsinki critiques past efforts and proposes a fresh approach that transcends mere economic growth. This paper explores the importance of measuring well-being and misery with sensitivity to societal changes, the dangers of unregulated consumerism, and the necessity for composite indices. By prioritizing real experiences and outcomes, we can better understand happiness and hardship in contemporary life.

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Social indicators revisited

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  1. Social indicators revisited J P Roos Department of Social Policy, University of Helsinki J.P.Roos University of Helsinki

  2. Previous attempts • UNRISD Jan Drewnowski • Level of Living Study Sten Johansson • Having-loving-being Erik Allardt • Happiness research Ruut Veenhoven • And many more (even my thesis 1973)... J.P.Roos University of Helsinki

  3. New impetus for change • global warming and other drastic environmental changes require indicators which not only measure economic development but also its consequences • it is even clearer now than 40 years ago that the GNP is a very misleading indicator of human development • Becoming more rich is very harmful, especially when there are too many rich people! J.P.Roos University of Helsinki

  4. Theoretical background • Maslowian need hierarchy was most common • Fell in disrepute because in sociology we believe that needs socially constructed • However, this is not true: there IS a universal human nature and needs have limits (or continuous fulfilling of them causes harm) • The social constructionist thinking quite harmful J.P.Roos University of Helsinki

  5. Examples • Alcohol use: good in small quantities • Tourism: very harmful if not contained • Mobile phones: a need that always has existed! • Snowmobiles: a good indicator of what can happen if everybody who can afford it can buy and use it J.P.Roos University of Helsinki

  6. Four worlds • A very good distinction • We should strive to reach the Real paradise and avoid Real hell • But this is always a mix in real life • Example: Kerala Why do people seem to be so happy there? J.P.Roos University of Helsinki

  7. Acceptability criteria and GNP • Is it relevant YES • Easy to understand NO • Reliable and valid Yes • Politically unbiased Yes? • Easy to obtain and update Yes • Comparable Yes • Objective or subjective NO • Positive or negative NO • A constituent/determinant of wellbeing YES and NO • Attributable to individuals or groups YES • Obtained through open, transparent process NO • Contibutes to coherent and comprehensive view of wellbeing NO J.P.Roos University of Helsinki

  8. Happiness • Very insensitive • No change over time • Difficult to compare • We need a composite index here, too • I.e. A battery of ten questions relevant to happiness J.P.Roos University of Helsinki

  9. Well-being and Misery • We need measures of well being and misery which react to economic and social changes sensitively • Poverty and misery can increase together with economic growth • Finland a good example: lowering of the alcohol price caused 2000 deaths (and a lot of misery)! J.P.Roos University of Helsinki

  10. Alternatives? • Concentrate on poverty and misery: this is the real task of social policy! • I.e alleviate Real and Fools’ Hells! • Develop very sensitive indicators of well being, whose movements can be traced to actual policies • Follow cumulative changes, not changes over time J.P.Roos University of Helsinki

  11. Follow regularly what has happened to people’s well-being Count increases and decreases and their importance Well-being does not change much over time but it is much better if we have had more positive than negative events! Eventually a life history prespective! I think this is a useful idea: J.P.Roos University of Helsinki

  12. Thanks to Alex and Jussi for very inspiring papers! J.P.Roos University of Helsinki

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