Modern Society and the Economics of Happiness

The Centre welcomed Professor Richard Easterlin (Professor of Economics, University of Southern California), Professor Andrew Clarke (Paris School of Economics) for a two strand event, the first taking place at the University of Warwick with an audience of students, academics and staff from across all areas of the University and the second taking place in Central London, chaired by Emma Duncan (Deputy Editor, The Economist) where the speakers were joined by members of the Policy Making community, Economists and Statisticians. The debate addressed the following questions: What are the appropriate goals for a modern society? Should economic growth be a major priority? How do we balance environmental concerns with the goal of higher GDP? What are the causes and policy implications of risky health behaviours? The event created much interest from both the Warwick Knowledge Centre and journalists, including Olaf Storbeck, the International Economics Correspondent with Handelsblatt, Germany's business daily who interviewed Professor Easterlin for his blog.