Investment Uncut: Happiness economics with Professor Lord Richard Layard

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Are you happy? Do you think you’re happier than you were 20 years ago? Or, put a different way, why aren’t you happier despite living in one of the wealthiest periods in history?

Three simple questions, but all of them have complicated answers. So how do we start to unpick this?

In this episode, we dive into the world of happiness economics with Professor Lord Richard Layard. We explore the factors that drive happiness, why GDP isn’t the ultimate goal, and how policies could shift to prioritise well-being over consumption.

For our Views from the Boardroom section, Jacob interviews fellow co-host Laasya who is unfortunately leaving LCP :(. They discuss Laasya’s career so far, highlights from her time at LCP and her favourite episode of Investment Uncut that she’s hosted.

What’s one thing you would like listeners to take away from this?

• We need to keep a perspective when we’re thinking about everything. The only thing that ultimately matters is the happiness of the people affected by those decisions.

Any recommendations?

• Happiness: Lessons from a new science by Richard Layard
• An introduction to the principles of morals and legislation by Jeremy Bentham
• Thive: The power of evidence-based psychological therapies by Richard Layard and David M. Clark
• Happier Kinder Together | Action for Happiness
• Mapiness app