‘Wellbeing’ isn’t a joke – it’s a tool for tackling populism

In an article on the politics of wellbeing, The Observer reports that while the U.S. slides down the World Happiness Index amid Trump-led disruptions, the UK Treasury is pioneering the integration of wellbeing into public spending decisions. Some experts argue that declining happiness fuels populism, with data showing links between dissatisfaction and political extremism. HEC Paris professor Yann Algan, co-author of the World Happiness Report, supports the idea that trust and life satisfaction shape whether discontent turns right or left.