Wellbeing is about individuals having the skills and opportunity to live a meaningful life. There are countless things that cities do that either contribute or detract from that sense of meaning. is working to fundamentally change how the government thinks about its citizens.

Do people feel optimistic? Do they feel connected to one other? What is wellbeing? What are the drivers of wellbeing?

It can be measured and it can be improved.

RAND experts and Santa Monica city officials discuss the Wellbeing Project, which aims to evaluate overall community wellbeing and incorporate these results into city planning and governance. The Wellbeing Project was funded by Bloomberg Philanthropies.

Read the full article about civic wellbeing by Anita Chandra and Susannah Faxon-Mills at RAND Corporation.