GWB v. GDP

David Cameron says that he wants to make people happy. Frankly it is a bold, and suicidal, politician who says that he wants to make people unhappy.

But it is an interesting point. Given the general rise in mental illness and societal dis-satisfaction in spite of record economic stability, it is perhaps time to acknowledge that GDP is only one indicator of how happy a nation is. As Cameron points out:

"It's time we admitted that there's more to life than money, and it's time we focused not just on GDP, but on GWB - general well-being."

To me that makes sense. Let's look at issues like work/life balance, let's think about how to improve the general working conditions of the nation. But fundamentally we need to think about how we can achieve that better work/life balance. I do not work long hours because I want to, but I do work those hours through choice - due to a (yet unrealised) promise of wealth. The only way to make me work less hours is to offer me an alternative source of income which, I think, it unlikely to happen. Sadly.

And here is where we get to typical Cameron. He has realised that there is a problem with the GWB, but utterly fails to offer any real solutions. In his speech he states he has:

"an ambitious goal to make the British public sector the world leader in progressive employment practice."

Ok, so policy one is to set a good example using the public sector. However, the private sector is not known for following the example of the public sector to say the least.

The article also states:

"A Tory administration would act as an "advocate for progress", talking up good initiatives and drawing attention to bad practice. "

So, a Tory administration would want nice things to happen, would take up other people's ideas if they were any good, and highlight - although crucially not act on - bad examples. In other words, they would only act if someone else comes up with a good idea, and then take the credit for it as they are an "advocate for progress". How terribly Blairite.

I look forward to Cameron changing my work/life balance for the better. Safe to say, though, I am not holding my breath.