Social happiness as a basis for designing public policies: A systematic review

Abstract

This paper examines the literature on social happiness as a basis for designing public policies. The systematic review initiated with a Scopus search using Boolean criteria, covering the period from 2013 to 2023. 49 out of 943 articles were selected through inclusion and exclusion criteria using RAYYAN software for data management and extraction, and the PRISMA model as a guide to ensure the replicability of the research. The descriptive findings reveal that most publications are from Latin America, showing a consistent increase in scientific output over the years, with 2021 being the peak year for related publications. This paper identifies debates on the viability of using happiness as a foundation in public policy design, importance of impact evaluation, and experimental methods. The document categorizes the macroeconomic, institutional and governmental, sociodemographic, psychological, and environmental and sustainability variables that interrelate with happiness, including factors such as income, economic stability, wealth distribution, state intervention, among other relevant factors. The literature reveals gaps, such as the lack of a universally accepted definition of social happiness and a shortage of longitudinal and experimental studies. Recommendations include a multidimensional approach, consideration of cultural and socioeconomic context, use of experimental methodologies, citizen participation, and incorporating happiness into the political agenda. Final reflections underscore transformative potential of integrating subjective well-being into the government agenda and the associated challenges, such as resistance to change and the lack of consensus on how to define and measure social happiness.