What is the Global Happiness Council?

The Global Happiness Council (GHC) is a new global network of leading academic specialists in happiness and key practitioners in areas ranging from psychology, economics, urban planning, civil society, business and government. The GHC identifies best practices at the national and local levels to encourage advancement of the causes of happiness and well-being.

Council members oversee the work of six thematic groups (education, workplace, personal happiness, public health, city design and management) who each produce a chapter of policy recommendations in the Global Happiness Policy Report, published annually and presented at the World Government Summit (WGS) in support the Global Dialogue for Happiness. This report provides evidence and policy advice to participating governments on best practices to promote happiness and well-being.

The work of the Council will be complementary to the World Happiness Reports and other research on the measurement and explanation of happiness. The aim of the GHC is to survey and share best practice policies drawn from the research literature and government experiences around the globe.

Council Members

  • Jeffrey Sachs

    Jeffrey Sachs

  • Jan-Emmanuel De Neve

    Jan-Emmanuel De Neve

  • John F. Helliwell

    John F. Helliwell

  • Richard Layard

    Richard Layard

  • Lara B. Aknin

    Lara B. Aknin

  • Ozge Karadag

    Ozge Karadag

  • Radhika Iyengar

    Radhika Iyengar

  • Sharon Paculor

    Sharon Paculor

  • Stefano Quintarelli

    Stefano Quintarelli

  • Shun Wang

    Shun Wang

  • Naoko Yamamoto

    Naoko Yamamoto