Growth Isn’t Good Enough

Growth is important. But it isn’t everything. Growth Isn’t Good Enough is clear; if we are to see our lives as worthwhile, satisfying, and happy, our relationships, marriages, work, our homes and environment all matter just as much, if not more, for a “Good Life”.

Even though GDP is rising, the UK’s citizens, and especially its youth, are less satisfied with their lives. CSJ calculations combining all four areas of wellbeing (happiness, life satisfaction, worthwhileness and anxiety) show that more people than the population of Sheffield now live in misery in the UK – they score poorly on every count.

Although GDP can be a useful measure of growth, GDP is not an efficient measure of life satisfaction nor is it an efficient measure of national wellbeing and thus should not be used as the ultimate barometer of the success of a nation. Furthermore, while GDP has been growing, so have economic inactivity and unemployment rates.

This report establishes the current satisfaction levels across the UK, examines models of life satisfaction through a UK lens, and ultimately proposes potential policy to improve the wellbeing of Britain’s most vulnerable.