Wellbeing in international development: What's new?

✍ Scribed by James Copestake

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 2008
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 162 KB
• Volume: 20
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0954-1748
• DOI: 10.1002/jid.1431

✦ Synopsis

Abstract

What does talk of wellbeing offer international development? Four possible answers are explored. First, it offers discursive space for analysing conflicting policy priorities to the extent that they are based on different assumptions about what it means for a person to ‘be well’ and about how this can be changed. Second, it draws on positive psychology to offer new ways of measuring what matters most to individuals. Third, it enriches analysis of opportunities and obstacles to policy reform. Fourth, it strengthens the case for decentralisation in the way development is managed. The arguments are illustrated with particular reference to research on wellbeing in Peru. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.