Applying the COM-B model to understand the (non) use of wellbeing indicators in policy development: what can we learn from civil servants? A case study of the Netherlands

Abstract

Although the shortcomings of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) as a proxy for societal wellbeing are widely acknowledged, few countries around the world have successfully institutionalised alternative measures in their national policymaking. In the Netherlands, efforts to move Beyond-GDP are largely synonymous with the adoption of brede welvaarts-denken (BWD), broad prosperity thinking. Evidence of BWD uptake, however, is limited and while efforts to move Beyond-GDP are growing internationally, the factors that influence the adoption of wider wellbeing measures in policymaking remain largely unknown. Applying the COM-B model of behaviour which highlights that Capability, Opportunity and Motivation are prerequisites to the performance of any given Behaviour, 23 semi-structured interviews with 29 civil servants, specialists and/or researchers were conducted in this study to: firstly, ascertain the (non) use of BWD in Dutch policymaking and secondly, understand the factors that facilitate or hinder uptake. Using inductive thematic analysis, 13 themes emerged as influencing BWD uptake, revealing a gap between a positive rhetoric surrounding BWD and its application in practice. Deductive coding of these themes to the COM-B model led to three main findings: 1) Most themes fell under the Opportunity stream, implying that widespread social and environmental change to governmental and policymaking structures is required for uptake to increase. 2) While many of the identified barriers and facilitators to BWD uptake were the same, some disconnect emerged across the profiles of participants. Therefore, greater communication between the relevant stakeholders involved in BWD is recommended. 3) The complexity of BWD means greater conceptual clarity is needed, and the barriers and facilitators from all COM streams require joint attention if added value is to be evidenced and application is to become institutionalised across all levels and types of policymaking.