On April 24-26 an international conference, the 2017 What Works Summit will be held in Reykjavík. The three day summit will explore how countries can turn economic growth into positive social outcomes and advance social progress in times of uncertainty.
How to create progress in times of uncertainty
This is the second time a What Works global summit. The meetings bring together leaders and change-makers from business, government and civil society. With the help of case studies, debate and workshops the participants will acquire new tools and solutions to create social change around the world.
Read more: Foundations of Well-being: Iceland ranks fourth on the Social Progress Index
One of the case studies to be explored at the conference is Costa Rica. In the 1990s Costa Rica began experiencing a tourism boom similar to the one Iceland has faced in the past 6 years, without experiencing serious negative consequences. Costa Rica has been held up as a model of sustainable tourism.
The Social Progress Index
The discussion at the summit is anchored in the Social Progress Index SPI, a powerful tool to measure the positive social outcomes which characterize prosperous societies, but which are not captured by common measures of economic success such as GDP: How well economies succeed in meeting basic human needs, provide the foundations of wellbeing and creating opportunities for people.
While it is social progress, not GDP, which actually affect the lives of ordinary people, policy makers have focused on the latter measure. Countries and regions have had varying success in turning economic product into real tangible social benefits to people. Measurement is the first step toward adopting policies which raise the quality of life and comparing case studies and drawing lessons from successful cases is the second. The Reykjavík conference is set to do exactly this.
April 24-26
The three day conference will feature 40 speakers, international leaders, academics and experts from business and civil society. Companies, media and institutions represented include MIT, Princeton, The Economist, BBC and Microsoft.
The schedule of events and workshops (pdf) includes the pre-event seminar on sustainable tourism and the lessons of Costa Rica, followed by sessions on different aspects of social progress around the world, what works in achieving social progress and how to deal with barriers.
Further information and registration is found here.
On April 24-26 an international conference, the 2017 What Works Summit will be held in Reykjavík. The three day summit will explore how countries can turn economic growth into positive social outcomes and advance social progress in times of uncertainty.
How to create progress in times of uncertainty
This is the second time a What Works global summit. The meetings bring together leaders and change-makers from business, government and civil society. With the help of case studies, debate and workshops the participants will acquire new tools and solutions to create social change around the world.
Read more: Foundations of Well-being: Iceland ranks fourth on the Social Progress Index
One of the case studies to be explored at the conference is Costa Rica. In the 1990s Costa Rica began experiencing a tourism boom similar to the one Iceland has faced in the past 6 years, without experiencing serious negative consequences. Costa Rica has been held up as a model of sustainable tourism.
The Social Progress Index
The discussion at the summit is anchored in the Social Progress Index SPI, a powerful tool to measure the positive social outcomes which characterize prosperous societies, but which are not captured by common measures of economic success such as GDP: How well economies succeed in meeting basic human needs, provide the foundations of wellbeing and creating opportunities for people.
While it is social progress, not GDP, which actually affect the lives of ordinary people, policy makers have focused on the latter measure. Countries and regions have had varying success in turning economic product into real tangible social benefits to people. Measurement is the first step toward adopting policies which raise the quality of life and comparing case studies and drawing lessons from successful cases is the second. The Reykjavík conference is set to do exactly this.
April 24-26
The three day conference will feature 40 speakers, international leaders, academics and experts from business and civil society. Companies, media and institutions represented include MIT, Princeton, The Economist, BBC and Microsoft.
The schedule of events and workshops (pdf) includes the pre-event seminar on sustainable tourism and the lessons of Costa Rica, followed by sessions on different aspects of social progress around the world, what works in achieving social progress and how to deal with barriers.
