nef was founded in 1986 by the leaders of The Other Economic Summit (TOES) which forced issues such as international debt onto the agenda of the G7 and G8 summits.

We are unique in combining rigorous analysis and policy debate with practical solutions on the ground, often run and designed with the help of local people. We also create new ways of measuring progress towards increased well-being and environmental sustainability.

nef works with all sections of society in the UK and internationally – civil society, government, individuals, businesses and academia – to create more understanding and strategies for change. To find out more about what we do, visit the main nef website here.

The HPI reflects the average years of happy life produced by a given society, nation or group of nations, per unit of planetary resources consumed. Put another way, it represents the efficiency with which countries convert the earth’s finite resources into well-being experienced by their citizens.

The HPI incorporates three separate indicators: ecological footprint, self-reported life satisfaction, and life expectancy. Although the statistical calculations that underlie the HPI are quite complex, conceptually it is straightforward and intuitive:

HPI = [Life Satisfaction x Life Expectancy / Ecological Footprint] (