Using Subjective Well-Being as a Headline Indicator in Dashboards to Track Human Progress

Martijn Burger (), Sarah Courchesne (), Talita Greyling (), Kelsey O'Connor (), Stephanie Rossouw (), Francesco Sarracino () and Ruut Veenhoven
Additional contact information
Martijn Burger: Erasmus Happiness Economics Research Organization, Erasmus University Rotterdam
Sarah Courchesne: Open Universiteit
Talita Greyling: University of Johannesburg
Kelsey O'Connor: STATEC Research – National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies
Stephanie Rossouw: Auckland University of Technology
Francesco Sarracino: STATEC Research – National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies

No 18383, IZA Discussion Papers from IZA Network @ LISER

Abstract: Gross Domestic Product (GDP) has long been used as a proxy for human progress, despite growing recognition of its limitations. Recently, numerous "beyond GDP" initiatives have emerged, promoting multidimensional dashboards to assess quality of life. However, these often lack a clear headline indicator, limiting their usefulness for policymaking and public communication. This paper argues for placing subjective well-being (SWB) at the center of progress measurement in dashboards. SWB captures the overall impact of life conditions on people's lived experiences and offers a clear, outcome-oriented metric aligned with what truly matters: a good life. We explore how SWB can serve as a headline indicator, complemented by measures of the conditions that support it, to improve policy relevance, accountability, and legitimacy. We also address key measurement challenges and propose ways to overcome them for more effective integration into decision-making frameworks.

Keywords: beyond GDP; quality of life; measures; subjective well-being (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: D60 I31 O10 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2026-03
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Working Paper: Using Subjective Well-being as a Headline Indicator in Dashboards to Track Human Progress (2026)
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