CRITICISM of the proposed ‘Happiness Index’ (Letters, November 29) shows how badly it has been explained. Many governments around the world – not only the UK Government – are convinced that the yardstick economists use to measure a country’s well-being, namely the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), gives a false picture. All it measures is how much is spent on goods and services.

As news items published daily in The Press make quite clear, most of us place having the certainty of access to support if we fall sick or if we fall on hard times or when we grow old, above simply owning more stuff.

Using GDP as the measure, the economists advising our Government are able to maintain that our well-being has increased if interest rates and gas prices go up, but has not been reduced if a local school or hospital is closed down.

There is a need for a yardstick that puts a value on the happiness of having a job, of feeling safe in the streets, of knowing that your child won’t be disadvantaged because you are poor.

With such a measure we would have a much clearer idea of whether the politicians were doing the job we elect them to do.

Maurice Vassie, Cartmans Cottage, Deighton, York.