World Wellbeing Panel

What is the World Wellbeing Panel (WWP)?

The World Wellbeing Panel promotes wellbeing as the ultimate purpose of all major decision makers, particularly government.

To this end, we ask an international panel of experts questions of relevance to wellbeing policy. Responses are personal assessments and are attributed individually. This poll fosters debates about policy in terms of its impacts on wellbeing, which over time should lead to better policies and decisions.

The panel launched in 2016 as part of the Wellbeing Program at the LSE Center for Economic Performance (CEP) under the initial direction of Paul Frijters. In 2020, the Directorship passed to Ada Ferrer-i-Carbonell (IAE-CSIC and BSE), and in 2023 to Chris Barrington-Leigh (McGill).

How is the survey run?

Questions are selected from a prior list suggested by our experts, policy makers, and journalists. The questions are vetted for language and suitability. Then they are sent out to 40-50 international experts who can express their agreement or disagreement with the question, and provide a short explanation of their answers.

The results of the poll are then written up by a World Wellbeing Panel member, after which they are disseminated amongst journalists, politicians, and anyone on the dissemination list.

Please contact the Director to be added to the dissemination list, to nominate a panelist, or to make other suggestions.