Professor Lord Richard Layard, co-founder of the World Wellbeing Movement, co-editor of the World Happiness Report, author, professor, and leading wellbeing science expert, delivered the keynote on The Role of Government in world wellbeing. He began by defining the ultimate purpose of government as the wellbeing of the people. To maximize wellbeing, governments should implement policies that reduce misery and increase happiness. Lord Layard declared that we are living in a historically important moment for Britain, because the government has decided to select policies based on their effects on the people’s wellbeing. He then urged the audience to support a letter endorsed by WOHASU 2024 speakers and directed to the United Nations Secretary General in advance of The UN’S Summit of the Future, which takes place this September. The plea is to make it clear that the ultimate objective of all policy should be the wellbeing of the people - both the present generation and those to come. Visit wohasu.com to read and share Prof. Layard’s letter.
Choosing beneficial policies that increase wellbeing necessitates accurate measurements of people’s wellbeing. Governments and institutions can measure wellbeing by asking people about their life satisfaction. Answers to the question, “Overall, how satisfied are you in your life?,” are the best predictor for how long people will live and also predict whether or not individuals will vote. Science has illuminated that life satisfaction is caused by individual factors such as human relationships, health, in particular mental health, and income. Social factors like social support, freedom and trust, and the absence of corruption also contribute to life satisfaction. Lord Layard called for researchers and policymakers to insist that life satisfaction and wellbeing be measured in all experiments and programs. In choosing policies, wellbeing should be at the center. To join the movement, sign the Como Wellbeing Manifesto on worldhappinesssummit.com