Governments need to prioritise well-being of citizens: Experts

Dubai / WAM

Professor Jeffrey Sachs, renowned economist and Chair of the World Happiness Council, has led a plenary session to discuss the findings of the first Global Happiness Policy Report on the opening day of the sixth World Government Summit, (WGS 2018), in Dubai.
In the session titled, “Insights and Reflections from the Global Happiness Policy Report,” industry experts highlighted key takeaways from the report, unanimously agreeing that governments need to prioritise the well-being of their citizens.
Fellow World Happiness Council members, economist Richard Layard and psychologist Martin Seligman joined Professor Sachs in the discussion along with economist Jan-Emmanuel De Neve.
Initiating the dialogue, Sachs said, “If you teach happiness and propound altruistic philosophy, you are actually happier. This report is a compendium of important case studies on the application of the science of happiness and will help governments understand, measure and monitor happiness around the world. Only 22 of the 193 governments present at the United Nations currently have happiness policies in place. Our mission is to spread this information to the world community.”
Layard, in turn, observed that tackling mental illness and the stigma that surrounds it remains a challenge today. “Even in developed nations, only a quarter of people with mental illnesses and similar conditions get treated. This would cause an outrage if these numbers reflected treatment for physical disabilities,” he said.
Expressing his belief that studies such as the Global Happiness Policy Report are making it easier to evaluate policy based on wellbeing, he added, “In the past, policy-makers have said that they do not have enough information to enact proper change and tackle mental illnesses and other negative emotions. This challenge has now been addressed by this report, which provides comprehensive data on happiness and its quantitative, measurable benefits.”
Turning the focus on the mental wellbeing of children and young adults, Martin Seligman noted that learning to be happy starts in school. “Everyone wants to make children happy. It turns out there are validated techniques that enhance positive emotions, a quality that is intrinsically valuable in itself, and that can increase a student’s literacy, numeracy and scientific understanding,” he said.
Jan-Emmanuel De Neve added, “Work provides a purpose, establishes social relationships, structure and routine in our daily lives. There are four ways in which you can increase your job satisfaction and engagement: by improving work-life balance, by getting essential skills training, by gaining autonomy and, most importantly, by improving the relationship with your superiors.”
The Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, announced the formation of the 14-member World Happiness Council in March 2017.