Understanding the issue

Societal progress is concerned with improvements in the well-being of people and households. It requires looking not only at the functioning of the economic system but also at the diverse experiences and living conditions of people.

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Research and development projects

The measuring well-being agenda calls for improved and new statistical measures, aimed at filling the gap between standard economic statistics and indicators that have a more direct bearing on people's life.

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Key events

The OECD is continuing the dialogue with developing and emerging countries through regional conferences and the OECD World Fora on "Statistics, Knowledge and Policy". These events aim to deepen on-going reflection on how to measure well-being and the progress of societies and establish frameworks for future work.

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The 4th OECD World Forum on Statistics, Knowledge and Policy themed around Measuring Well-Being for Development and Policy-Making will take place in New Delhi, India on 16-19 October 2012. The Forum will stock of worldwide initiatives on measuring well-being and progress and will promote the use of new measures for development and policy-making.

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Related initiatives hosted by the OECD

Your Better Life Index: new and improved version

How's Life?

How's Life? paints a comprehensive picture of well-being in OECD countries and other major economies, by looking at people's material living conditions and quality of life across the population.

See also

• OECD Better Life Initiative
• Your Better Life Index