Brookings/University of Warwick Briefing: 'Informing Policy Choices Using the Economics of Happiness' 5/27/2004
From: Brookings Office of Communications, 202-797-6105 or communications@brookings.edu, Web: http://www.brookings.edu News Advisory: WHAT: Brookings/University Of Warwick Briefing: "Informing Policy Choices Using the Economics of Happiness" WHEN: Thursday, June 3, 10:30 a.m. 12 p.m. WHERE: The Brookings Institution, Falk Auditorium, 1775 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Washington, D.C. Moderator: -- GREGG EASTERBROOK, visiting fellow, Brookings; senior editor, The New Republic; a author, "The Progress Paradox: How Life Gets Better While People Feel Worse" Panelists: ED DIENER, alumni professor of psychology, University of Illinois CAROL GRAHAM, vice president and director, Governance Studies, Brookings ANDREW OSWALD, professor of economics, University of Warwick JEFFREY SACHS, director, The Earth Institute, Columbia University A new social science field-the study of happiness-is growing up. The results will ultimately transform how governments make decisions. Policymakers may one day use a system of national well- being indicators to track a country's happiness in the same way we now monitor economic conditions. The study of happiness lies at the junction between economics and psychology and relies on large survey data sets. In these surveys, random samples of people are quizzed about their mental health and how happy they feel with their lives and other indicators, including their income, job, and marital status. The patterns traced out by these answers allow researchers to study the links between happiness and life events. Psychologists find that happy people are prone to more successful lives-in social relationships, income and work, and health. On Thursday, June 3, Brookings will convene four prominent scholars to discuss the relevance of their research on happiness to current debates in the fiscal, macroeconomic, social welfare, international economic, and foreign aid arenas. Panelists will offer new perspectives on these issues at a time when both voters and policymakers are debating their options in the coming elections. RSVP: Please call the Brookings Office of Communications, 202-797-6105, or by e-mail at communications@brookings.edu or visit us online at http://www.brook.edu/comm/events/20040603.htm. |