Renowned health expert Ilona Kickbusch in an interview with “Healthy Europe” on the significance of health promotion in times of crisis, and on strategies for the future to achieve greater well-being among all citizens.
Wellbeing economy
In her latest book, economist and advisor to politicians around the world Mariana Mazzucato argues that governments should actively shape markets instead of only “repairing” them in emergencies, as mainstream economists advise.
Healthy Europe asked seven international health experts what they expect from the future after the pandemic is over: Austria’s Health Minister Wolfgang Mückstein; Pierre Delsaux, Deputy Director-General of the Directorate-General for Health and Food Safety of the European Commission; Marc Pearson and Francesca Columbo from the OECD; Mojca Gabrijelčič Blenkuš, President of EuroHealthNet; Lars Münter, Communications Lead of the Nordic Health 2030 Movement; and Amanda Janoo, Knowledge and Policy Lead of the Wellbeing Economy Alliance.
Imagine an economy that focuses on achieving population wellbeing and social justice instead of profit and mathematical growth. This may sound utopian, but some governments are already making progress.
Päivi Sillanaukee, Permanent Secretary in the Finnish Ministry of Social Affairs and Health on the economy of well-being and why this is a priority area of Finland’s Presidency of the EU Council.
Many pension funds around the world invest their money in the tobacco industry, among others. Australian cancer specialist Bronwyn King is successfully fighting to change this.
According to experts, economic growth theoretically leads to better health among the population. Not everyone benefits in the same way, however, and industrial production is frequently also linked to environmental damage.