Prosperity measured by GDP per capita and overall well-being aren't always interchangeable with happiness levels
The Joint Research Centre (JRC) of the European Commission has released a comprehensive report titled "Measuring Sustainable and Inclusive Well-being for European Countries and the EU." The report evaluates the state of well-being in EU countries, integrating sustainability and inclusiveness dimensions into economic and social indicators.
The report ranks countries in terms of sustainable and inclusive well-being and quality of life, aiming to go beyond GDP as the main indicator of a country's well-being. It analyzes over 150 indicators, with a subset of 50 key factors, and synthesizes them into a comprehensive index: the Sustainable and Inclusive Well-being (SIWB) index.
The SIWB index is composed of six macro-areas: current well-being, social and economic sustainability, nature and environmental sustainability, inclusivity, competence and quality of local institutions, and future well-being.
Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Austria, and the Netherlands have the highest index of sustainable and inclusive well-being in Europe. However, the report challenges the assumption that money makes happiness, as countries with high GDP per capita do not necessarily have the highest quality of life.
Italy, for instance, has a high per-capita wealth level but ranks low in specific aspects of well-being, particularly inclusivity and the quality of institutions and governance. On the other hand, Bulgaria and Romania have a low GDP per capita but rank high in quality of life, placing them in the top 12.5 percent of European states in terms of quality of life.
Key findings related to Bulgaria, Romania, Italy, and the EU as a whole include:
- Strong socio-economic progress in certain areas: There has been advancement in goals like decent work and economic growth (SDG 8), reduction of inequalities (SDG 10), and quality education (SDG 4) across the EU, but with uneven performance among Member States.
- Persistent regional disparities within the EU: Countries such as Bulgaria and Romania generally show lower performance on sustainable development indicators compared to countries like Italy and the broader EU average, reflecting socio-economic and governance challenges.
- Environmental objectives lagging behind: Despite socio-economic progress, environmental goals (e.g., combating climate change, SDG 13) are moving away from targets throughout the EU, implying an urgent need for stronger action, particularly in countries struggling with sustainable resource management.
- COVID-19 impact on health-related well-being: Health outcomes (SDG 3) were strongly affected by the pandemic but are in recovery phase across European countries.
- Governance and policy gaps: The report stresses the necessity of political commitment, financing, citizen empowerment, and green recovery to achieve inclusive and sustainable well-being, highlighting differences in how Member States, including Bulgaria, Romania, and Italy, handle SDG governance.
Overall, the report shows that while socio-economic indicators have generally improved, significant challenges remain in ensuring environmental sustainability and reducing disparities between Member States. Bulgaria and Romania tend to lag behind Italy and the average EU performance in sustainability and inclusion, indicating the importance of tailored policies and investment focusing on green and inclusive growth.
For detailed country-level metrics or thematic breakdowns from the full report, those would be found in the primary JRC publication itself. The report underscores the need for continued efforts to address regional disparities, improve environmental sustainability, and promote inclusive growth across European countries.
[1] European Commission (2022). Measuring Sustainable and Inclusive Well-being for European Countries and the EU. Joint Research Centre (JRC) of the European Commission.
- The report's Sustainable and Inclusive Well-being (SIWB) index, composed of six macro-areas, evaluates not only current well-being but also sustainable and nature-oriented development, inclusivity, competence, and institutional quality, and future well-being.
- Achieving sustainable and inclusive well-being in Europe doesn't always correspond with a high GDP per capita, as countries like Bulgaria and Romania, with lower GDP per capita, rank high in quality of life according to the SIWB index.
- Personal growth and education, essential aspects of overall well-being, are evaluated by the report under the area of competence and quality of local institutions, which also encompasses lifelong learning opportunities and access to quality education.
