THE SPINOZAPACT

For new indicators measuring citizens’ well-being in France

“A man’s desire to live happily, or to live well is his very essence.”

Baruch Spinoza

Presents

Dear readers,In times of near-recession, GDP cannot be the sole indicator nor guide for policy makers, because it does not directly relate to citizens’ lives. “76% of French people are in need of a common goal”1. It has become urgent to identify other drivers than traditional economic growth to maintain or increase people’s well-being. So, today, we propose citizens’ well-being as a fundamental political principle. And, we need robust tools and indicators to measure it.

With warm regards,

Alexandre Jostfounder of the Spinoza Factory

Well-beingas a political principle

IN FAVOUR OF A “BETTER LIFE FRENCH BAROMETER”, BUT WHAT FOR?

> To sail out of the economic crisis: with good bearings from new indicators, wor-king towards citizens’ well-being is beneficial for the economy, because people are healthier, less violent, more altruistic, more dynamic, better entrepreneurs, and companies have more trust in the future.

> To inspire and unite the French people: in times of near-recession, well-being indicators are a vehicle to define a common and inspiring goal for our society, in a political and democratic fashion.

> To measure what really matters, in a sustainable way: a barometer captures economic development and societal progress criteria that really matter to French people, and assesses their sustainability.

> Designed to display primary drivers of well-being in OECD countries: housing, income, work, community, education, environment, governance, health, life satisfaction, security, work-life balance

> Takes into account both objective and subjective data

> Example of criteria for Community: % of people believing that they know someone

they could rely on in a time of need

EXAMPLE OF AN INDICATOR : “YOUR BETTER LIFE INDEX” BY THE OECD2

> A clear back-and-forth process between a joint commission (involving elected people, experts, civil society) and citizens to guarantee both technical AND democratic legitimacy: a possible national consultation

> A process leveraging the Stiglitz-Sen-Fitoussi commission, the works of the FEO, the OECD, Switzerland, the UK, Italy, Germany and the organisation FOWI3

A CLEAR METHOD TO BUILD INDICATORS TAILORED TO FRANCE

1) J.P. Delevoye, Mediator of the Republic, 2010 Annual Report2) Presented by the OECD on May 24th 20113) FEO = French Economic Observatory ; FOWI = Forum for Other Wealth Indicators (FAIR in french)

MEASURING CITIZENS’ WELL-BEING IN FRANCEUsing new development indicators

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FranceHousingIncomeWorkCommunityEducationEnvironmentGovernanceHealthLife satisfactionSécurityWork/Life balance

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WHAT IS THE SPINOZA PACT?

The Spinoza Pact encourages politicians to commit to setting up new well-being indicators to measure progress. In times of crisis and budget constraints, political decision-makers need – more than ever – steering and decision tools, in order to make insightful choices for French people’s well-being.

« THE SPINOZA PACT »

I. Supporting the need for new indicators to measure sustainable economic and social progress in France, and the construction of those indicators

1. Starting the construction of well-being indicators, with work from experts and elected people, within the first 100 days of the presidential mandate

2. Consulting citizens and the civil society in the construction process3. Finalizing those indicators within 2 years following the election

II. Using these indicators in an effective manner in the public and political arena

4. Publishing indicators frequently, in a comparable fashion to GDP5. Using them in the policy making and evaluation process, starting with a pilot-process

They already support the spinoza pact

Dr. Charles Martin- Krumm (positive psychology scientist), Pr. Robert Mirsrahi (philosopher), Matthieu Ricard (monk, Dalai-Lama official aid and translator), Pr. Ruut Veenhoven (sociologist), Dorji Wangdi (Bhutan Minister of labor), etc.

THE 5 POINTS OF THE SPINOZA PACT

Therefore, the Spinoza Factory warmly offers France’s presidential candidates to commit to 5 concrete actions to measure citizens’well-being in our society.

THE SPINOZAPACT

For new indicators measuring citizens’ well-being in France

La Fabrique Spinoza32 rue Dauphine - 75006 ParisTél. : +33 (0)9 69 80 48 95Fax : +33 (0)1 777 59 222Mobile : +33 (0)6 721 720 44Email : contact@fabriquespinoza.org

WHO IS COMMITTED TO THOSE NEW INDICATORS?

CITIZENS, WITH STRONG EXPECTATIONS

“Indicators to measure well-being make even more sense in times of crisis.” R.B., citizen – sociological study1, December 10th 2011

“It seems more important than other indicators, more concrete, it talks to us. Citizens’ well-being tells us if the country’s doing alright or not.” S.G., citizen – same study

“[Economic] growth contributes to citizens happiness, in an individual fashion, but it is not the only driver.” C.P., citizen – same study

1 - Mandated by the Spinoza Factory to Acmé Consultants, sociological consulting firm

COUNTRIES AND POLITICAL LEADERS ON THE MOVE

“[...] at issue is a form of growth that can secure sustainable wellbeing. In this regard, variables such as security, quality of life, health and the sustainable use of raw materials will play a decisive role.”Angela Merkel - February 4th 2010

“GDP measures everything, in short, except that which makes life worthwhile.”Robert F. Kennedy - March 18th 1968

INSPIRATIONNAL INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS

“[the Member States are invited to] elaborate new measures that will take into account the importance of research on happiness and well-being to better focus their development policy.” UN General Assembly resolution – July 19th 2011

“Those attempting to guide the economy and our societies are like pilots trying to steer a course without a reliable compass. [...] better measures may enable us to steer our economies better through and out of crises.”Stiglitz-Sen-Fitoussi Commission – February 14th 2009

“We must work towards a policy in which prosperity and well-being are mutually reinforcing rather than competing.”European Council, President H. Van Rompuy – “The happiness budget” speech – May 23rd 2011

The Spinoza Factory is a Paris-based cross-party think-tank. It organizes and pro-motes research and democratic debate on citizens well-being, and makes public policy recommendations in its favor, to politicians and to the civil society. Declared one of the 12 leading French think-tanks by Acteurs Publics, the Spino-za Factory is Correspondant in France of the Wikiprogress initiative, hosted by the OECD, for the measure of societal progress. Its research areas include education, governance, work, health, time, philanthropy, medias, gender equality, indicators, public service, town planning.

Read and sign THE SPINOZA PACT at www.fabriquespinoza.org