When 400 Experts Questioned the Meaning of Progress
From 22 to 25 July 2025, Luxembourg hosted the 23rd Annual Conference of the International Society for Quality-of-Life Studies (ISQOLS), bringing together over 400 experts from 55 countries. The event marked not only a major international gathering, but also the 30th anniversary of ISQOLS, highlighting three decades of research on well-being and quality of life.
Moving Beyond GDP: A Central Debate
Under the theme “Redefining Progress: Achieving Sustainable Well-Being for All”, the conference challenged one of the most established indicators in economics: GDP. Discussions focused on how growth alone fails to capture inequality, social cohesion, and individual well-being, pushing for broader frameworks to measure progress.
Luxembourg’s own PIBien-être dashboard, presented during the event, illustrated this shift by integrating indicators such as income, poverty risk, and subjective well-being into policy thinking.
From Research to Real-World Impact
The programme reflected the scale and ambition of the topic:
440 oral presentations and 40 posters
5 pre-conference workshops
4 keynote speakers and a roundtable discussion
Rather than staying theoretical, sessions explored how well-being research can inform public policy, economic models, and social strategies, especially in the context of climate, social, and economic crises.
A Multidisciplinary and Global Dialogue shaping the Future of Well-Being
What made ISQOLS 2025 stand out was its interdisciplinary approach. Researchers, policymakers, and practitioners exchanged perspectives on topics ranging from social inequality to environmental sustainability, showing that well-being is not a single-discipline issue but a shared global challenge.
The conference notably featured internationally renowned experts, including:
Robert Costanza (University College of London), advocating for a broader definition of prosperity aligned with sustainability
Richard Layard (London School of Economics), emphasising the role of well-being in policy decision-making
Sonja Lyubomirsky (University of California, Riverside), exploring how daily behaviours influence happiness
Jeffrey Sachs (Columbia University), addressing the link between well-being and sustainable development
Their contributions bridged disciplines, from economics and psychology to environmental studies, reinforcing the need for cross-sector collaboration.
Luxembourg as a Platform for Societal Innovation
Organised by STATEC Research in collaboration with the University of Luxembourg and partners, the conference positioned Luxembourg as a hub for forward-thinking discussions on societal progress.
Beyond the sessions, the event created opportunities for international networking and collaboration, reinforcing the country’s role in hosting high-level scientific and policy dialogue.
The strongest message emerging from ISQOLS 2025 was clear: progress can no longer be defined by economic growth alone.