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

And, unexplained premature mortality, the ‘Scottish/Glasgow effect’

Jordanhill

Charing Cross

HyndlandPartick

Anderston

Exhibition Centre

CENTRAL

Argyll St.

Bridgeton

QUEEN STREET

Govan

Hillhead St George’s Cross

Buchanan Street

Life expectancy data refers to 2001-5 and was extracted from the GCPH community health and well-being profiles. Adapted from the SPT travel map by Gerry McCartney.

Males - 75.8yFemales - 83.1y

St Enoch

Males - 61.9yFemales - 74.6y

Ibrox

Cessnock

Jordanhill

Charing Cross

HyndlandPartick

Anderston

Exhibition Centre

CENTRAL

Argyll St.

Bridgeton

QUEEN STREET

Govan

Hillhead St George’s Cross

Buchanan Street

Life expectancy data refers to 2001-5 and was extracted from the GCPH community health and well-being profiles. Adapted from the SPT travel map by Gerry McCartney.

Males - 75.8yFemales - 83.1y

St Enoch

Males - 61.9yFemales - 74.6y

Ibrox

Cessnock

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

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

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)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

‘What do you need to live well in your

community?’

ie the conditions of wellbeing

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

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

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

Using the Humankind Index

Sub-indexes:- LA- Socio-economic deprivation

The Index might get the headlines, the indicators and sub-domains tell the story…

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)

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

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

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

www.oxfam.org.uk/humankindindex

Launching April 24, 2012

Story Telling Centre, Edinburgh

Details: ktrebeck@oxfam.org.uk