Workshop weighs economic costs and benefits of wellbeing and mental health

Wellbeing and mental health ultimately have an economic impact on people's lives for better or worse and it will be these aspects which will be discussed when Deakin University hosts Victoria's first workshop on the subject this week (Thursday 27 August).

Dr Cahit Guven, workshop convenor and lecturer with theSchool of Accounting, Economics and Finance, said presenters would include leading experts in the field,Professor Bob Cummins from Deakin University and Professor Michael Shields from Melbourne University.

Professor Shields will talk about an issue which is of great importance to Australia - the influence of mental health on labor market participation.

Other presentations will include:

Dr Stefanie Schurer from the Melbourne Institute of Applied Economic and Social Research, who will present a paper on relative income and happiness. She investigates whether or not people compare themselves to others in Australia.

Associate Professor Elias Khalil, from Monash University, will talk about the phenomenon, known as the Easterlin Paradox, whereby happiness does not increase with increases in wealth. He offers a solution as to why this occurs.

Professor Cummins will talk about his current research findings on the relationship between happiness and mental health.

Dr Wang-Sheng Lee from the Melbourne Institute of Applied Economic and Social Research will talk about his work using Australian data which looks at the relationship between ill-being and wellbeing using Australian data.

"My presentation will look at the role inequality of wellbeing plays within couples and whether it can predict divorce," Dr Guven said.

The workshop will start at 9.30am at Deakin University's Melbourne Campus at Burwood on Elgar Road, Building B lb2.100.