Research areas

The Chair of Wellbeing and Public Policy’s research falls into three distinct areas.

Determinants and impacts of subjective wellbeing

Subjective wellbeing (SWB) is rooted in people’s judgements of their own wellbeing. This approach to measuring wellbeing has benefits over other frameworks, which often reflect their designers' own experiences.

In the SWB field, the Chair’s research includes examinations of the determinants of individual wellbeing, including how those determinants are mediated by interactions with others in society and how societal wellbeing can impact people’s choices. The Chair's research looks at the migration choices people make between and within countries, while also measuring SWB inequality within countries. These research strands form the core of the conceptual work that underpins more practical policy insights in the Chair's other two research areas.

Wellbeing approaches to public policy

In this field, the Chair contributes to the study and practice of wellbeing economics as it relates to the public policy process. Included in this work is comparative analysis of the development of wellbeing-oriented public policy across countries. For instance, the Chair’s current work reviews key approaches to wellbeing economics and the practical experience of implementing wellbeing policy across six countries (including New Zealand). This work is particularly relevant to central government policy-makers—for instance, in budgetary policy.

Quality of life and place

People’s wellbeing is significantly determined by the characteristics of the place in which they live and the people who live there. In this research, the Chair examines the key local features that make a place good to live and work in. Much of this research is conducted in conjunction with colleagues at Motu Economic and Public Policy Research. This research is important for local government policy-makers who wish to enhance their local area as a drawcard for current and prospective residents and businesses.