Economy of Wellbeing – A Transnational Collaborative Platform for the Baltic Sea Region
Putting People at the Centre of Inclusive and Resilient Economic Development
The Economy of Wellbeing of People (EWP) is about placing human and social wellbeing at the heart of how we think about progress. It asks a simple but important question: what kind of economy truly enables people to live healthy, meaningful, and connected lives?
Photo: Plattform
Across the Baltic Sea Region, countries face shared challenges such as an ageing population, mental health pressures, skills gaps, and rapid digital and green transitions. The EWP approach recognises that wellbeing and prosperity are not separate goals. A healthy, educated, and included population is the foundation of a resilient economy.
From Feasibility Study to Action
Between July 2024 and July 2025, Föreningen Norden carried out the Economy of Wellbeing of People Feasibility Study, funded by the Swedish ESF Council through ESF+. The study mapped close to 700 institutions and 100 experts across the region including ministries, trade unions, local authorities, regions, universities, NGOs, and employer organizations. Its aim was to explore how macro-regional cooperation can help create more inclusive, healthy, and sustainable working lives.
The results show a strong call for transnational collaboration. Stakeholders from all countries agreed that mental health, lifelong learning, and ageing populations require joint solutions that go beyond national borders or single policy sectors.
Towards a Collaborative Platform
Based on these findings, Region Västerbotten, together with Policy Area Education under the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region (EUSBSR), will lead the next phase: the creation of a macro-regional collaboration platform on the Economy of Wellbeing of People.
The platform will serve as:
- A meeting point for stakeholders from policy, research, civil society, and business
- A laboratory for innovation and joint projects on wellbeing-oriented governance
- A knowledge hub for sharing data, methods, and good practices
- A policy voice that links regional efforts to European wellbeing initiatives
Shared Priorities for Action
The feasibility study identified three interconnected priorities for future cooperation:
- Healthy Ageing and the Care Economy – unlocking the potential of an ageing workforce and promoting intergenerational dialogue.
- Lifelong Learning and Skills Development – ensuring continuous reskilling, inclusion, and personal growth across all ages.
- Mental Health and Social Connection – addressing stress, loneliness, and wellbeing in workplaces and communities.
These themes will guide upcoming online workshops and policy dialogues throughout 2025 and 2026.
Why it matters
The Economy of Wellbeing of People builds on the EU Council Conclusions on the Economy of Wellbeing (2019) and the Nordic Council of Ministers’ vision of becoming the most sustainable and integrated region in the world. It offers a practical way to align health, education, and labour policies around a shared goal: ensuring that economic success goes hand in hand with people’s wellbeing.
Get Involved
Join the growing community that is working to make wellbeing a driving force for sustainable development in the Baltic Sea Region.
Download the full report: Economy of Wellbeing of People – Towards a Collaborative Platform in the Baltic Sea Region
Register for our online workshops in November 2025: Read more and register here.
Contact: Aslı Tepecik Dis