"Why the GDP Is Not An Good Measure of A Nation's Well Being"

[applegrove]

Why the GDP Is Not An Good Measure of A Nation's Well Being

by by Ray B. Williams at Psychology Today

http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/wired-success/201309/why-the-gdp-is-not-good-measure-nations-well-being

"SNIP.................................


They make reference to an alternative measure, called the Social Progress Indicator, originated by the World Economic Forum and advocated by the Social Progress Imperative and Harvard Business School Professor Michael Porter, which examines how 50 countries perform on 52 indicators related to human needs, and foundations of well-being. The results—Sweden was at the top and the U.S. comes in at number 6.

Excessively focusing on economic indicators such as the GDP and stock market indices takes our attention away from the real measurement of a country’s and people’s progress—our overall well being. We would do well to remember Mahatma Gandhi’s observation about the roots of conflict and violence within a nation are “wealth without work, pleasure without conscience, knowledge without character, commerce without morality, science without humanity, worship without sacrifice, and politics without principle.”




.................................SNIP"

[pscot]

1. My biggest ever contribution to GDP

was 9 days in an ICU. I was so proud.

[rrneck]

2. The entire problem explained in sixteen words.

[applegrove]

4. Hey, with prices coming down due to Obamacare hospital stays will not be so great for the GDP

[Uncle Joe]

3. Kicked and recommended.

Thanks for the thread, applegrove.

[Ron Green]

5. Wall Street counts bad stuff the same as good stuff.

That's no way to measure anything.