A New Opportunity to Focus on Well-Being

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Woman looking out window with mask during pandemic.

Over one year after the COVID-19 lockdowns began, how is the world faring mentally and why have some governments handled the pandemic so much better than others?

The World Happiness Report 2021 seeks to answer these questions with an in-depth look at 162 countries. Carol Graham shares three lessons that stand out from the study and emphasizes that the current crisis could open the door for much-needed policies that focus on societal well-being.

Also in this edition, we discuss how the American Rescue Plan can boost pay for essential workers, ways local leaders can lift up small businesses, the misconceptions surrounding vaccine distribution, and the incredible resilience displayed by Indigenous communities.

It's time to boost pay for essential workers. With federal aid coming, local leaders have an opportunity to finally provide the hazard pay that essential workers deserve. Molly Kinder outlines promising hazard pay models that already exist and calls on more states to step up.

Small business relief strategies. The U.S. federal government has provided $932 billion in small business loans and advances over the past 12 months, but small businesses are still facing significant challenges. Joseph Parilla explains how state and local policymakers can use federal funds to support small businesses.

Building education back better. The COVID-19 crisis provides a unique moment for educators, parents, researchers, and policymakers to reimagine education systems. Helen Shwe Hadani and Kathy Hirsh-Pasek say now is the time to leverage the current momentum.

The strength of Indigenous communities. COVID-19 has illuminated the long legacy of neglect and oppression of American Indians and Alaska Natives by the U.S. government and society. At the same time, the pandemic has highlighted tremendous leadership from tribes, Victoria M. O’Keefe and Melissa L. Walls argue.

Achieving greater vaccine equity. The effort to address inequality in the vaccine rollout has been slow and marred by bottlenecks. Philip Schellekens outlines three misconceptions that are preventing progress.

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