Croissance économique et bien-être

Abstract

The measurement of social well-being is still a question. We propose a new indicator founded on both "relative" and "absolute" characteristics. The level of aggregated social well-being depend on income distribution (reducing inequality increase social well-being) and on the rate of economic growth (living generations are in a better situation). We have computed the indicator for France, Italy, United States and United Kingdom, during 1950-2000. The increase in social well-being was very large in France and Italy, but stagnate in the recent years. In the United States and United Kingdom, it is still increasing. In these four countries, a 2 % per year growth in real income per capita is required to stabilise the level of well-being. For sustaining a high level of social well-being, the economic policy must aim two goals: a high level of economic growth and a low level of inequality.