Nicola Sturgeon: Why governments should prioritize well-being
As the first woman to hold the office of First Minister of Scotland, Nicola Sturgeon is an important progressive and feminist voice in the governance of the United Kingdom. Full bio
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in Edinburgh's Old Town,
Scottish economist
"The Wealth of Nations,"
amongst many other things,
production and commerce.
descriptions of what we now know today
of production and commerce, GDP,
is what Adam Smith would have intended --
the most important measurement
is that it is time for that to change.
as a country matters.
because it drives political focus,
as a measurement of a country's success
the output of all of our work,
about the nature of that work,
is worthwhile or fulfilling.
on illegal drug consumption,
even if that activity is hugely damaging
in the longer term.
of the climate emergency,
for a much broader definition
as a country, as a society,
in establishing a new network
Governments group,
and New Zealand, for obvious reasons.
on the common good.
is to challenge that focus
economic growth matters --
at any or all cost.
of economic policy
implications of that in a moment.
in the world we live in today,
and fundamental questions.
in the communities we live in?
what kind of society,
in those questions,
a much better chance
and disaffection from politics
for Scotland started back in 2007,
our National Performance Framework,
that we measure ourselves against.
are as varied as income inequality,
in GDP statistics,
to a healthy and a happy society.
of our economic strategy,
to tackling inequality
is fulfilling and well-paid.
a Just Transition Commission
to a carbon zero economy.
transformations of the past
there are more losers than winners.
of climate change and automation,
is, I think, significant,
from other countries.
our partner nations
to decide whether this is relevant or not,
are currently led by women.
publishing its first Wellbeing Budget,
childcare and paternity rights --
creating a wealthy economy,
to a healthy economy
and "The Wealth of Nations."
"The Theory of Moral Sentiments,"
that the value of any government
its people happy.
focused on promoting well-being.
the birthplace of Adam Smith.
with growing divides and inequalities,
to those questions
not just wealth, at its very heart.
sunny capital city ...
in the Enlightenment,
into the industrial age,
is helping to lead the world
that Scotland will also be the country
and governments across the world
of everything that we do.
to the next generation
from the country of the Enlightenment,
a better, healthier, fairer
happier world as well.
ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Nicola Sturgeon - First Minister of ScotlandAs the first woman to hold the office of First Minister of Scotland, Nicola Sturgeon is an important progressive and feminist voice in the governance of the United Kingdom.
Why you should listen
In November 2014, Nicola Sturgeon was elected as the first female leader of the Scottish National Party. Days later, she was sworn in as the country's first woman First Minister. Soon after her election, she appointed a cabinet boasting a 50/50 gender balance.
As head of the Scottish government, Sturgeon is responsible for her administration's policies and for promoting and representing Scotland both at home and overseas.
Sturgeon entered the Scottish Parliament as a regional MSP for Glasgow in 1999. She is currently MSP for Glasgow Southside. Sturgeon served as Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing between 2007 and 2012, and then Cabinet Secretary for Infrastructure, Investment and Cities until November 2014. Throughout this period she also served as Deputy First Minister of Scotland.
Nicola Sturgeon | Speaker | TED.com