How do health and wellbeing correlate, and how do they correlate across countries? No problem, check out this interesting graph which I found in this OECD report on wellbeing through the crisis. 
I wonder how New Zealand does it – all that equity of health outcomes? Perhaps it’s some statistical artefact, but if not, it would be good to know how they do it.
Here’s another cool graph which maps life satisfaction against educational level and shows that we’ve got it all sorted in Australia with everyone having a pretty good time. In Sweden and Ireland you’re happier if you’re uneducated.
Its kind of intriguing how people are managing to nurse along the old concern with ensuring that we measure wellbeing not just GDP. I agree, but not with the fervour of many
The global economic crisis has had a profound impact on people’s well-being, reaching far beyond the loss of jobs and income, and affecting citizens’ satisfaction with their lives and their trust in governments, according to a new OECD report.others. They’re very closely correlated on most reasonable measures of wellbeing. But the OECD’s ‘messaging’ is up to ‘nuancing’ that particular fact.
How’s Life? finds that subjective well-being deteriorated in countries most affected by the crisis. . . .
“This report is a wake-up call to us all,” said OECD Secretary-General Angel Gurría. “It is a reminder that the central purpose of economic policies is to improve people’s lives. We need to rethink how to place people’s needs at the heart of policy-making”.
I am a little concerned to deduce from this that the Secretary-General was asleep. But looking on the bright side, it is certainly good news that has woken up. Will he be able to wake up others deep in their slumber? Will there be time?