Welfare beyond GDP
Reframing Welfare Index
A holistic measure of welfare across European regions, designed to overcome the limits of traditional metrics such as GDP. Co-developed with KMOP Policy Centre.
What GDP leaves out
The index measures social and individual wellbeing in 228 regions across 30 European countries, every year from 2014 to 2023. Sixteen sub-pillars, each built from several indicators, are grouped into four pillars.
Scores run from 0 to 100 against goalposts fixed over 2014 to 2023, so years can be compared, and every score comes with an interval that reflects survey uncertainty.
- Pillars
- 4
- Sub-pillars
- 16
- Regions
- 228
- Years
- 10
Europe, region by region
Where welfare is highest, and where it lags
The overall index in 2023. Orange regions score highest, dark navy regions lowest. The gaps run north to south and west to east, and often within a single country.
Reframing Welfare Index, 2023, overall score. Norway has no 2023 score and is shown in the darkest tone. Canarias, Açores and Madeira are not drawn.
The framework
Four pillars, sixteen sub-pillars
Pillar A · 4 sub-pillars
Just Societies
How people relate to the formal and informal structures that shape their collective wellbeing, and the conditions for an inclusive, equitable society.
- Institutional integrity
- Freedom and voice
- Social capital
- Inclusion and equal opportunity
Pillar B · 5 sub-pillars
Secure Livelihoods
The resources and conditions people need not only to survive but to flourish: essential services, the chance to pursue their aspirations, and a life free from fear and deprivation.
- Income and material security
- Education and skills
- Health
- Personal security
- Housing and local services
Pillar C · 4 sub-pillars
Sustainable Open Economies
The economic structures that drive prosperity: an economy’s ability to foster competitiveness, innovation and inclusive growth through open markets and sustainable practice.
- Output and productivity
- Labour market
- Investment and dynamism
- Innovation and knowledge economy
Pillar D · 3 sub-pillars
Green Futures
The interplay between the natural environment and human activity: the state of the environment today and the transition to a more sustainable future.
- Clean air
- Climate and transition
- Land, water and biodiversity
Working with the index
Measurement that captures what matters
We build measurement frameworks beyond GDP with advanced econometric methods, on the index and on custom data.
What we do
- Beyond-GDP welfare indicators and indices
- Regional disparity analysis across Europe
- Econometric modelling of social change
- Custom data analytics for policy questions
Who it is for
- Regional governments
- EU institutions
- Researchers
- Foundations
Coming nextIn development
EU Regions Welfare AI Editor
An AI editor that answers questions about regional welfare in plain language. It draws only on Reframing Welfare Index data for 228 European regions, and every answer comes with its sources and confidence indicators.
Ask about one region, compare several, or generate a full report on housing affordability, employment, social services, the economy and environmental quality.
How is your region really doing?
Tell us the region, the question and the decision it informs. We will reply within two working days.