Event overview
A talk by Professor Gabriel Leite Mota in collaboration with the Wellbeing Research Hub in the Goldsmiths STaCS Department.
Economies, happiness, and social work: insights from the Economics of Happiness for the betterment of social work.
The line of inquiry that commenced in economics during the final decade of the 20th century, now referred to as the economics of happiness, encompasses a wide range of applications. Firstly, within the economic domain, it presents challenges to traditional economic models, welfare evaluations, and policy conclusions. Secondly, it establishes connections with various disciplines such as psychology, sociology, philosophy, neurology, management, among others. Thirdly, it contributes to the solidification of happiness as a scientific concept, both theoretically and in practical terms. Fourthly, it stimulates the development of new indicators of progress and development closely linked to the idea of sustainability.
Given this diverse range of applications, it is possible to utilize key empirical findings and theoretical concepts from the economics of happiness, or more broadly, from the science of happiness, to enhance social work both scientifically and in practice. From a scientific standpoint, the primary contribution would involve incorporating happiness as a crucial concept for discussion within social work. Far from being a trivial topic, it can serve as a potent tool for conceptualizing more effective social work models.
When contemplating social work interventions, empirical findings such as adaptation, comparison, the significance of relative standings, the irreplaceability of different life domains, the importance of social capital or relational goods, and the diminishing returns of money can all have a significant impact on the formulation of social interventions aimed at fostering sustainable happiness for vulnerable populations. Furthermore, happiness enables us to scrutinize the welfare consequences of different economic models and how various economies influence social work implementations — whether financially, academically, or politically. All these issues will be critically addressed during the talk.
Dates & times
| Date | Time | Add to calendar |
|---|---|---|
| 8 Feb 2024 | 5:00pm - 8:00pm |
Accessibility
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