Call for papers: "Economic Development and Wellbeing"

For a special issue of the International Journal of Happiness and Development.

This special issue intends to bring together papers dealing with topics on (sustainable economic) development, wellbeing, and the relationships between the two. All too frequently the most appropriate approaches to achieving sustainable economic development are seen as lying with promoting investment in infrastructure, developing educational systems, expanding trade routes and relationships, promoting credit availability, establishing appropriate political and financial institutions, accessing aid and the like.

These and other factors play a crucial part in developing and maintaining economic development. But the question of interest to this issue is the nature of the relationship between the outcomes that flow from the above and notions of wellbeing. In other words, how is the relationship between creating sustainable economic development and achieving wellbeing formed in practice, if at all? What drives these relationships, to what extent, and in what ways?

This exploration comes at an important time given that macroeconomic indicators suggest the beginnings of an upward swing across many economic and geographical regions. There is no equivalent wellbeing indicator to help us track change and progress in this across time or space. Not only that, but the very definition of wellbeing varies significantly and range from discussions of physical and emotional health to less precise views on happiness and its formation. This special issue leaves discussion on the definition open but expresses a preference for notions of wellbeing that are closer to happiness.

Suitable topics include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Microeconomic and macroeconomic factors promoting economic development and their relationship with wellbeing
• Definitions of wellbeing
• Factors promoting wellbeing
• Necessary conditions for the promotion and continuation of wellbeing
• Historical and contemporary views on the relationship between economic development and wellbeing
• National-level public policy in relation to promoting wellbeing
• Influence of factors such as growth, trade, etc. on promoting wellbeing
• Relevance of environmental links between pursuing economic development and wellbeing

Important Dates

Full paper submission: 15 March, 2015
Revised paper submission: 1 June, 2015
Final paper acceptance: 1 August, 2015