title: Improving health and well-being independently of GDP: dividends of greener and prosocial economies.
abstract: Increases in gross domestic product (GDP) beyond a threshold of basic needs do not lead to further increases in well-being. An explanation is that material consumption (MC) also results in negative health externalities. We assess how these externalities influence six factors critical for well-being: (i) healthy food; (ii) active body; (iii) healthy mind; (iv) community links; (v) contact with nature; and (vi) attachment to possessions. If environmentally sustainable consumption (ESC) were increasingly substituted for MC, thus improving well-being and stocks of natural and social capital, and sustainable behaviours involving non-material consumption (SBs-NMC) became more prevalent, then well-being would increase regardless of levels of GDP. In the UK, the individualised annual health costs of negative consumption externalities (NCEs) currently amount to £62 billion for the National Health Service, and £184 billion for the economy (for mental ill-health, dementia, obesity, physical inactivity, diabetes, loneliness and cardiovascular disease). A dividend is available if substitution by ESC and SBs-NMC could limit the prevalence of these conditions.
authors: a Department of Biological Sciences and Essex Sustainability Institute , University of Essex , Colchester , UK.
authors: Jules
authors: J
authors: Pretty
authors: a Department of Biological Sciences and Essex Sustainability Institute , University of Essex , Colchester , UK.
authors: Jo
authors: J
authors: Barton
authors: b Department of Sociology and Essex Sustainability Institute , University of Essex , Colchester , UK.
authors: Zareen Pervez
authors: ZP
authors: Bharucha
authors: a Department of Biological Sciences and Essex Sustainability Institute , University of Essex , Colchester , UK.
authors: Rachel
authors: R
authors: Bragg
authors: c Sustainable Development Unit for NHS England and Public Health England , Cambridge , UK.
authors: David
authors: D
authors: Pencheon
authors: a Department of Biological Sciences and Essex Sustainability Institute , University of Essex , Colchester , UK.
authors: Carly
authors: C
authors: Wood
authors: d European Centre for Environment and Human Health , University of Exeter Medical School , Exeter , UK.
authors: Michael H
authors: MH
authors: Depledge
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004777:Environment; D005260:Female; D059066:Gross Domestic Product / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D006113:United Kingdom; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: green economies; green exercise; health costs; loneliness; material consumption; mental health; obesity; physical inactivity; sustainable behaviours; well-being