This document proposes a new indicator of social welfare called the Index of Social Welfare. It is designed to be citizen-centered and utilize open data. The index is composed of 10 pillars and 17 sub-indices that measure both objective factors like percentage of GDP spent on social benefits, and subjective factors based on citizen satisfaction surveys. Data is drawn from trusted international organizations. Sample calculations show the index values for 4 countries in 2015 and trends for Greece from 2012-2015. The authors conclude the index can help quantify both qualitative and quantitative aspects of social welfare in a way that is dynamic, utilizes open data, and can be calculated for many countries.

1. A NEW INDICATOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE:
A CITIZEN CENTERED AND OPEN DATA
ORIENTEDAPPROACH
Emmanouil Fragkoulis
Panagiotis Kokkinakos
Ourania Markaki
Sotirios Koussouris
John Psarras
Central and Eastern European e|Dem and e|Gov Days 2016 - Budapest, May
2016

2. • Concept of prosperity indicators in general and the
characteristics these ought to have in order to be
considered as fair and effective.
• Distinction between subjective and objective indicators,
highlighting the importance of subjectivity towards
effectively measuring prosperity and well-being in general.
• Blending the best aspects and structural elements of
existing indicators and further utilising open data, come
up with a new indicator.
Scope and Objective of this paper

3. Issues with GDP - Prosperity (1/2)
• GDP utilized to indicate prosperity at a national level.
• Criticism – prosperity cannot be expressed with financial
terms only
• ‘’Gross National Product – if we judge the United States of America by that – that
Gross National Product counts air pollution and cigarette advertising, and
ambulances to clear our highways of carnage. It counts special locks for our doors
and the jails for the people who break them. It counts the destruction of the redwood
and the loss of our natural wonder in chaotic sprawl. It counts napalm and counts
nuclear warheads and armored cars for the police to fight the riots in our cities.....Yet
the gross national product does not allow for the health of our children, the quality of
their education or the joy of their play. It does not include the beauty of our poetry or
the strength of our marriages, the intelligence of our public debate or the integrity of
our public officials. It measures neither our wit nor our courage, neither our wisdom
nor our learning, neither our compassion nor our devotion to our country, it
measures everything in short, except that which makes life worthwhile.’’
(JFK’s speech at the University of Kansas 18/3/1968)

4. Issues with GDP - Prosperity (2/2)
• Conferences take place-Committees are created-New
indicators are suggested in order to include every single
aspect of it
• Attempt GDP replacement - No one has succeed it so far
• All problems start from the definition - Absence universally
accepted definition of prosperity

5. Definitions of wellbeing
Multiple definitions of wellbeing:
 ‘“Wellbeing is no less than what a group or groups of people
collectively agree makes ‘a good life’’’. (Whiting and Ereaut 2008)
 “Wellbeing is more than just happiness. As well as feeling satisfied
and happy, well-being means developing as a person, being fulfilled,
and making a contribution to the community’’. (Shah and Marks)
• “This is a dynamic state, in which the individual is able to develop
their potential, work productively and creatively, build strong and
positive relationships with others, and contribute to their community’’.
(Foresight Mental Capital and Wellbeing 2008)
Vast majority of them describe rather than define the concept of Wellbeing.

6. A new definition of Wellbeing
Rachel Dodge 2012

7. Indicators
• Compound index–Combine individual indicators
• Prosperity = individual affair->subjective concept-
>Subjective Indicators
• Financial status information->Objective Indicators
• Emphasis on subjective indicators

8. Importance of Subjective Wellbeing
Good feelings
e.g. happiness, joy,
contentment,
satisfaction
Improved
personal and
material
conditions e.g.
Good health, income,
resilience, personal
support networks
Stronger
society and
economy e.g.
Social cohesion,
high productivity,
reduced spending
on poor health

9. Selection of pillars
• World Bank
• World Economic
Forum
• OECD
• United Nations
• European
Commission
• New Economics
Foundation
• Sustainable
Society
Foundation
• Freedom House
• IMD
19
entities
18
indicators
• Corruption
• Governance
• Civil rights
• Education
• Health
• Social
security
etc.

10. Steps calculating the new index
Definition of
wellbeing
Analysis of
current
situation
Pillars
selection
Calculation
Verification

11. Index of Social Welfare
10 Pillars - 17 sub-indices
• 2/3 subjective indices – Quality of services provided
• 1/3 objective indices – Percentage of GDP a country devotes to
social welfare benefits
• Equal weighting for pillars and sub-indices levels (all have the
same importance)
• Measurement scale=0-100 for both the overall index and its pillars.
Better comparisons and highlight differences over time/states. It is
the original measurement scale of most sub-indices.

12. Index of Social Welfare structure
Index of Social Welfare
Health System
Health expenditure %GDP
Health care quality % satisfied
Education
Education expenditure % GDP
Education quality % satisfied
Environmental Care
Municipal waste treatment (recycling + composting)
Satisfied with government efforts to preserve environment
Security Personal security and private property rights are adequately protected
Benefits for vulnerable
groups
Social expenditure % GDP
Satisfaction with government efforts to deal with the poor
Freedom and Social
Rights
Freedom in the world Index
Labor and
Entrepreneurship
Business Freedom
Labor Freedom
Governance and
Corruption Prevention
Corruption Perceptions Index
Government effectiveness
Culture General government expenditure on recreation, culture and religion % GDP
Infrastructures
Quality of overall infrastructure
Investment in inland transport infrastructure % GDP

13. Data sources
• Trusted sources
World Bank
Gallup World Poll
United Nations
OECD
World Competitiveness Yearbook
Freedom House
Transparency International
Eurostat
World Economic Forum

14. Calculation for 4 countries
37.7
53.8
57.8
43.5
0.0
10.0
20.0
30.0
40.0
50.0
60.0
70.0
80.0
90.0
100.0
Index of Social Welfare
Greece France Germany Italy

15. Results of 4 well-known indicators compared to
Index of Social Welfare
Human Development
Index
Happy Planet Index Social Progress Index Prosperity Index
Germany 0,911 47,2 84,04 2,658
France 0,884 46,5 80,82 2,065
Italy 0,872 46,4 77,38 1,065
Greece 0,853 40,5 74,03 0,076

16. Diachronic analysis for Greece
35.0
36.0
37.0
38.0
39.0
40.0
41.0
42.0
43.0
44.0
45.0
2012 2013 2014 2015
Index of Social Welfare

17. Conclusions
• New indicator of Social Welfare (quantitative and qualitative
aspects)
• Calculated for 4 countries (2015) and for Greece for 4
consecutive years(2012-2013-2014-2015)
• Exploitation of open public data
• Index can be calculated for many countries(If there are available
and credible raw data)
• Dynamic (Weighting can be altered depending on the users’
needs)

18. Thank you for your attention
Questions?