Beyond subjective well-being: a critical review of the Stiglitz Report approach to subjective perspectives on quality of life

Reference:

White, S. C., Gaines, S. O. and Jha, S., 2012. Beyond subjective well-being: a critical review of the Stiglitz Report approach to subjective perspectives on quality of life. Journal of International Development, 24 (6), pp. 763-776.

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Official URL:

http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/jid.2866

Abstract

This paper welcomes the Stiglitz Report's placing of wellbeing at the centre of policy discussions of measuring economic performance and social progress. However, the paper critiques the identification of subjective perspectives on quality of life solely with subjective well-being. The paper locates subjective well-being within psychological wellbeing, happiness and quality of life studies more broadly. It argues for attention to concepts, not just techniques, and more engagement with social and political perspectives. It draws on empirical research in Zambia and India to show that context matters and qualitative research is needed to complement quantitative measures of wellbeing.

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