Better Well-Being Index

The Better Wellbeing Index (BWI) offers an alternative measure of wellbeing that could replace GDP.

GDP has been the dominant headline indicator of economic growth and progress in general. Economic growth, however, is not the only factor that can indicate citizens’ wellbeing. Society is complex and functioning in a variety of dimensions beyond this narrow economic sense. The Better Wellbeing Index (BWI) aims to provide an alternative and better indicator to take society’s complexity and multidimensionality into account. BWI is a composite indicator comprising eleven dimensions that contribute to citizens’ wellbeing. By linking with the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Better Life Index, it offers a solid and reliable indicator not only for the Netherlands, but also for international measurement.

The Better Wellbeing Index is an initiative by Institutions for Open Societies, strategic theme at Utrecht University, in collaboration with RaboResearch. 

• News

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    “It's fine to be well-off, but at some point, one has too much”

    In the media

    24 January 2022

    On CBS News, professor in the Ethics of Institutions Ingrid Robeyns talked about the concept of ‘limitarianism’.
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    OECD ‘How was life?’-report highlights two centuries of wellbeing around the globe

    News

    16 March 2021

    The new OECD publication ‘How was Life? II’ shows economic development and wellbeing in over 40 countries worldwide, in the last 200 years. Jan Luiten van Zanden, professor in Economic history, is one of the authors.
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    “Not a crisis itself is crucial, but the measures taken afterwards”

    Background

    6 July 2020

    What does the current crisis mean for our future? Bas van Bavel, Professor Transitions in economy and society, from Institutions for Open Societies, reflects on this.

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