Facilitating the move towards a wellbeing economy through supporting infrastructure: A review of frontrunner countries

As more governments seek to shift beyond gross domestic product (GDP) as the dominant measure of progress, the concept of a “wellbeing economy” has gained traction. This approach prioritizes human and environmental wellbeing through broader, more holistic policy frameworks. A central question in this transition is what the implications of shifts to a wellbeing economy are for infrastructure investments. In this study, we identify four frontrunner governments, Bhutan, Scotland, New Zealand, and Wales, that have formally adopted wellbeing economy principles. We analyse how each operationalizes the concept and assess the resulting implications for infrastructure planning and investment. Despite shared goals, we find substantial variation in how wellbeing is defined, measured, and institutionalized across contexts. Our findings show that infrastructure plays a vital enabling role in all cases, particularly through initiatives focused on green transition, improved accessibility, and enhanced social infrastructure. We identify eight recurring policy themes: decarbonisation and digitisation, reducing socio-economic inequality, strengthening social services, enabling the circular economy, promoting long-term planning, advancing green urban infrastructure, and improving housing. These results suggest that reorienting infrastructure policy around wellbeing goals can support more sustainable and equitable development pathways, offering a roadmap for other jurisdictions pursuing similar transformations.