Paper short abstract:

Statistical measures are being used in the Western world to manage and control populations. In recent years Indicators that measure happiness and well-being as part of public policy gained immense popularity. My presentation will review the current trend and its contribution to subjectivity.

Paper long abstract:

As early as the 19th century, quantification and statistics have been a central aspect of governing as a form of control over individuals and populations (Foucault, Porter, Hacking, Rose) and is one of the characteristics of modern societies today. In recent years the measuring of happiness and well-being on national and global levels has gained popularity, moreover, happiness has become a measure for health, success and productivity on the individual level and a measure of progressive governing on the political level.

Countries such as Australia, Canada, UK and Israel, as well as organizations such as the OECD and the UN, all have their own version of well-being measures (used interchangeably also as Quality of Life Measures). The results of these initiatives are presented to the public through elaborate graphs and dashboards. Their region or country is seen in comparison to others.

My presentation will trace some of the historical milestones of these initiatives, and will discuss the information revealed to citizens as their individual happiness scores are aggregated on a national level. I will also argue that the possible case of governing through happiness raises the question whether measuring happiness and well-being is at all a new concept or is it yet another instance of governing the self. How these new happiness scores can be viewed as contributing to concepts of subjectivity, specifically through digitally derived knowledge.