An alternate model that prioritizes wellbeing over GDP growth
We believe that resilience, economic and environmental sustainability, inclusion, social cohesion, and equity are better ways to measure our society's success. And we're not alone. New Zealand and Norway have already begun devoting government resources to community wellbeing. Cleveland, Ohio and Preston, UK have also invested in local anchor institutions, like universities and hospitals, to create new, inclusive economic opportunities for their communities. This budgeting for wellbeing model aims to move beyond precarious, extractive models of work and economic development.
We believe Canada can successfully do this too. Think Upstream supports alternative models to Canadian governments' decision-making frameworks that move beyond measuring success by the narrow frame of GDP growth and into the more human-centred social determinants of health and community wellbeing frame.
