Finland among top ten in OECD well-being report

Only few Finns complain about the access to green spaces. Finnish people have one of the best well-being and work-life balance among the developed industrial nations according to a new OECD report. It’s How’s Life report assesses 11 specific aspects of life – ranging from income, jobs and housing to health and environment. According to the report, Danish people rank highest on the well-being measure and Finland is listed on the 9th place.

The report found that only few Finns, Swedes and Danes complain about the green space in their countries, while more than one in three is unsatisfied with the access to green space in Italy and Turkey. According to the OECD, access to green space and a healthy physical environment are fundamental drivers of quality of life.

Norwegians, Finns and Danes are also the most politically active, with more than 60 percent saying they had contacted a politician, signed a petition, worked with a pressure group or demonstrated in the past year, while Turks, Portuguese and Russians reported the lowest levels of activism. OECD press release states that the civic engagement allows people to contribute to how their societies function.

‘Some may wonder whether it is still opportune to talk about well-being, rather than just focusing on the economic growth needed to get our countries out of this crisis. I strongly believe that today, even more than two years ago, we have to consider a broader picture in our policy making, because a growth as usual’ approach is simply not enough, says OECD Secretary-General Angel Gurría.

The new report is part of the OECD’s ongoing effort to devise new measures for assessing well-being that go beyond Gross Domestic Product.

Sources: Good News from Finland, www.oecd.com, October 2011