A Guide to Wellbeing Economic Evaluation

This guide is a discussion document setting out proposed methods for economic evaluation of wellbeing programmes. The audience is primarily analysts and the academic teams that make up the Centre, to document our evolving shared approach. It is intended that it will be amended on an iterative basis as methodologies and source data develop.

The What Works Centre for Wellbeing (the Centre) aims to produce high quality, accessible evidence syntheses for decision makers in government, charities, business and the community.

Information on ‘what works’ for wellbeing is not enough by itself. To know where best to focus our time and investment, we need to know where options are applicable, how they can be implemented and how much they cost. Putting resources into one option means that we miss out on the benefits which could be achieved through a different choice. Decision makers need to know how much benefit can be achieved per £ and for whom, in order to decide where best to spend their budgets.

This guide is a discussion document setting out proposed methods for economic evaluation of wellbeing programmes. The audience is primarily the Academic teams which make up the Centre, to document our evolving shared approach. It is intended that it will be amended on an iterative basis as methodologies and source data develop.

Our Handbook for Wellbeing Measurement (forthcoming) presents these issues and the approach in a more accessible manner, for other audiences.