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Whose Economy?

Whose Economy?. Discussion paper Seminars Policy paper (Our Economy.) Policy tool – the Humankind Index. Whose Economy?. Decades of regeneration, economic growth & anti-poverty policies have not reduced poverty in Scotland Instead, poverty largely static; health inequalities worse

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Whose Economy?

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  1. Whose Economy? • Discussion paper • Seminars • Policy paper (Our Economy.) • Policy tool – the Humankind Index

  2. Whose Economy? • Decades of regeneration, economic growth & anti-poverty policies have not reduced poverty in Scotland • Instead, poverty largely static; health inequalities worse • And, unexplained premature mortality, the ‘Scottish/Glasgow effect’

  3. Life expectancy drops 2yrs for males for each station travelled east across Glasgow

  4. A pernicious paradox? • In vulnerable communities, the most important (sometimes the only) asset available to families and individuals is their family relationships & social networks • Yet, recent economic development positions individuals as cheap, flexible & expendable labour • This relies on the crucial support systems in vulnerable communities But…simultaneously threatens to destroy them

  5. GDP = generally deplorable policies….? • The GDP hero is a chain-smoking, terminal cancer patient going through an expensive divorce who crashes his car on the way to his job as an arms dealer because of texting while eating a take away hamburger (Anielski)

  6. GDP = generally deplorable policies….? • GDP records as a rise:- gambling- dealing with crime and prison expansion- health treatment- outsourced care- cleaning up an oil spill- more cars- increases in the top incomes without improvement in the incomes of others- expenditure on weapons

  7. GDP ignores: • unpaid community work • walking to work • greater equality • environmental sustainability • prevention of ill-health • time with family and friends • feeling safe and secure • democracy

  8. And, GDP is a lagging indicator...? • JRF Monitoring Poverty & Social Exclusion shows that even before the recession began (measured by falls in GDP), other indicators were falling:- the unemployment rate for 16 to 24 year olds began rising- the number of people in low income households rose- the number of children in low income households where one adult works began increasing • All prior to the recession

  9. So, what to do about it? • Remember that wealth = the conditions of wellbeing (Old English) • Wellbeing = developing as a person, being fulfilled & feeling you make a meaningful contribution to the community • Poverty = a failure of wellbeing • Re-frame the policies

  10. Might putting communities at the apex of decision-making help our health…….? • Reflecting on the social determinants of health for the WHO, Marmot & Wilkinson (2003) call for a more caring and just society, both economically and socially • People need: - to feel valued & appreciated, have a sense of belonging, feel that they are in control- secure & meaningful work where they participate in decisions- to play a meaningful role in the economic, cultural life of society • Otherwise, they are prone to depression, drug use, hostility, hopelessness- all of which impact physical health

  11. Theoretical foundations • Sustainable Livelihoods Approach • Stiglitz, Sen, Fitoussi for Sarkozy • EHRC Equalities Measurement Framework • Genuine Progress Indicator (Anielski) • Easterlin Paradox • Carnegie/ Sustainable Development Commission Roundtable • Happy Planet Index • UNHDI • OECD Better Life Index

  12. Construction of the Oxfam Humankind Index Steering Group:- Scottish MP, MSPs, MEP- Scottish Trades Union Congress- Scottish Business in the Community- Scottish Council for Development & Industry- The Poverty Alliance- Glasgow Centre for Population Health- Scotland’s Chief Medical Officer- (fmr) Sustainable Development Commission- An equalities expert- A human rights expert- The Improvement Service

  13. ‘What do you need to live well in your community?’ie the conditions of wellbeing

  14. Humankind Index: consultation • Team:- nef- Craighead Institute- University of Glasgow- Northern Star- Institute of Development Studies • Mixed methods- street stalls- community meetings- focus groups- online social media tool- online survey- event at Scottish Parliament-YouGov poll • Strategic sampling to illuminate the voices of seldom heard group

  15. In numbers…. • 11 focus groups, 124 participants • 9 community workshops, 175 participants • 11 street stalls, 452 participants • Online survey, over 1100 responses • YouGov poll of over 1000 people • ∑ almost 3000 people

  16. Calculation of the Index • Weighted sub-domains (= people’s priorities) • Experts Panel:- Fraser of Allander Institute- health- public mental health- natural & environmental assets- poverty- employment, skills- relationships, community activities- crime/ community safety

  17. Using the Humankind Index • Sub-indexes:- LA- Socio-economic deprivation • The Index might get the headlines, the indicators and sub-domains tell the story…

  18. Returning to Marmot and Wilkinson on the social determinants of health • ‘Unsatisfactory or insecure jobs can be as harmful as unemployment, merely having a job will not always protect physical and mental health: job quality is also important’ (M&W 2003: p 20) • Social support provides emotional and practical resources (lower social support = less wellbeing, more depression, greater risk of pregnancy complications, higher disability from chronic diseases)

  19. Exploring policy implications • Eg Secure work: - discard raw employment figures for a measure of ‘decent’ work?- Planning policies to prioritise economic development conducive to secure jobs?- Even government support only for those firms providing decent jobs? • Eg relationships with family and friends:- Working hour limits underpinned by social protection?- Reductions in commuting time?- Affordable spaces to congregate? • Local community development according to a Humankind assessment (a la Bhutan)? • Scotland’s international leadership potential • National Performance Framework

  20. Golden Rules & Purpose Targets: Whose purpose? What purpose? • Economic growth:- raise GDP to UK- match GDP to small EU countries • Productivity:- top quartile in OECD • Participation:- L market participation • Population: - Population growth • Solidarity:- Y & proportion of Y for lowest 30% • Cohesion:- L market participation • Sustainability:- Reduce emissions

  21. What purpose……? • GDP, productivity, participation, population growth, Y, L market growth - Where is the quality of jobs? - Where is the accessibility to those further from the labour market? - Where is the focus on inequality across the income distribution? - Where is the health of the population? - Where is the productivity and market share of our social enterprises, our cooperatives? - Where is the measurement of things that really matter to people, not just GDP? • A few are picked up in national objectives, but the hierarchy is clear

  22. www.oxfam.org.uk/humankindindexLaunching April 24, 2012Story Telling Centre, EdinburghDetails: ktrebeck@oxfam.org.uk

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