Economics of wellbeing and environmental sustainability: evidence from the Happy Planet Index in Indonesian conservation zones

This study examines the economics of wellbeing and environmental sustainability through the lens of the Happy Planet Index in Indonesian conservation zones. The research addresses the problem of how household-level behaviours and local institutions shape sustainable wellbeing, offering novelty by applying the Happy Planet Index at the micro scale of buffer villages. Using a mixed-methods approach combining household surveys, logistic regression, marginal effect analysis, and qualitative fieldwork, the study finds significant contrasts between Meru Betiri and Baluran. Waste management and access to green space increase the probability of achieving high wellbeing, while high meat consumption and reliance on motorised transport reduce it. Statistical validity is supported by robust model accuracy, while qualitative evidence highlights the role of social norms and community-based conservation. The findings conclude that sustainable wellbeing depends less on geography than on ecological behaviour, providing critical insights for conservation policy and local development strategies.