From Capitalism to Felicidadism

22 Nov 2025

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And what if GDP is the wrong indicator of progress?

This is one of the questions that economist Catia Arnaut answers in her book From Capitalism to Felicidadism, organised by Happyology. The presentation of the author's new work will take place at KEF, on 22 November, at 4 pm. Joining the conversation with the author are Maria Gomes and Myriam Taylor, moderated by Filipa Joaquim.

From Capitalism to Felicidadism... proposes rethinking what society values. Uniting the fields of economics, psychology, environmental science and well-being, this book stems from the concept of Happytalism, created by Luis Gallardo, and delves into a logic that challenges the dominance of growth-centred thinking. Based on extensive scientific research, which distances itself from "one-size-fits-all" recipes or self-help, the author advocates for a new model of development: a model rooted in well-being, equity and sustainability as opposed to inequality, social disconnection, physical and mental exhaustion and environmental collapse.

Arnaut presents a new conceptual framework and a practical dashboard to help countries measure what really matters: how people live, how they feel, how they work and whether the systems surrounding them allow for genuine human flourishing.

Anyone who thinks the book is a manifesto against growth is mistaken. "It is a post-growth vision for the 21st century. A future where prosperity is not measured by production, but by outcomes. A future in which happiness is no longer a byproduct, but the main political objective," states the author.

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Cátia Arnaut is the founder of Happyology - an organisation that promotes organisational and individual well-being and happiness.  With a degree in Economics, she holds an MBA in Management and Strategic Planning and a Master's in Project Management. She worked for over 22 years in telecommunications and IT and in 2015 won the Project Manager of the Year award from PMI Chapter Portugal. After leaving Portugal in 2012, she lived in Dubai for 1 year, 5 in Angola and 5 in Switzerland, where she developed her career in large-scale international programmes, interacting with CEOs and high-level government officials. In 2020 she decided to pursue a PhD to deepen her research on Happiness and developed her thesis “The Variables that Influence Well-being: Proposal for a Dashboard on Global Reality”.  

Maria Cordeiro Gomes has a degree in violin performance and is a qualified teacher for specialised artistic education, where she has been teaching for over two decades. She combines teaching with artistic activity, regularly collaborating as a violinist with various projects and national orchestras. In 2025, she completed a Master's in Music Therapy at the Lusíada University of Lisbon, having completed her internship in the Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Service of the Unidade Local de Saúde da Cova da Beira, in Covilhã.

Myriam Taylor is an award-winning impact entrepreneur and social futurist. She co-founded Muxima Bio BV, a Dutch company operating at the intersection of self-determination, identity, female representation and Black representation in several interconnected spheres: media, arts, tech, politics and education. For the last 25 years, she has been involved in the idealisation and development of socio-political and artistic projects in countries such as France, Brazil, UK, Italy, Angola, Netherlands, USA and Portugal.

Filipa Joaquim is a Visiting Adjunct Professor at the Polytechnic Institute of Portalegre and a PhD student in Global Studies at the Nova University of Lisbon. Her career combines teaching, research and leadership of international projects in the areas of communication, marketing and media literacy. She coordinates Erasmus+ programmes and training accredited by the CCPFC, promoting innovative and collaborative pedagogical practices. She has dedicated her career to connecting academic knowledge to social impact, inspiring students and professionals to communicate with awareness, authenticity and empathy.

 

Book: From Capitalism to Felicidadism: Proposal for a New Development Paradigm, by Catia Arnaut
22 November, at 4 pm
Rua de Santa Catarina, 9, 3rd floor, 1250-093 Lisbon (Annex to Palácio Verride)
Subject to capacity