Sustainability and wellbeing: the dynamic relationship between subjective wellbeing and sustainability indicators

Abstract We analyse the relationship between individuals' subjective wellbeing (SWB) and measures of their country's sustainability. SWB data are sourced from World Values Survey; sustainability is measured by ecological footprint (EF) components Bank's adjusted net savings (ANS) series. ANS, a measure weak sustainability, represents changes in capital stock including financial, physical, human natural capital. show that an increase strong EF ANS's component, associated with reductions over next decade followed rebound subsequent decade. also perfect substitutability assumptions on which ANS calculated do not hold. Our findings highlight important political challenge: governments run sustainable policies may decrease near-term citizens. This can reduce government's short-term popularity even though improved raise future wellbeing.