Gross domestic product (GDP), a measure of national economic production, has come to be used as a general measure of well-being and progress in society, and as a key indicator in deciding a wide range of public policies. However GDP does not properly take into account non-economic factors such as social issues and the environment. In the aftermath of the economic and financial crisis, the European Union (EU) needs reliable, transparent and convincing measures for evaluating progress. Indicators of social aspects that play a large role in determining citizens’ well-being are increasingly being used to supplement economic measures. Health, education and social relationships play a large role in determining citizens’ well-being. Subjective evaluations of well-being can also be used as a measure of progress. Moreover, changes in the environment caused by economic activities (in particular depletion of non-renewable resources and increased greenhouse gas emissions) need to be evaluated so as to ensure that today’s development is sustainable for future generations. The EU and its Member States, as well as international bodies, have a role in ensuring that we have accurate, useful and credible ways of measuring well-being and assessing progress in our societies.
Gross domestic product (GDP), a measure of national economic production, has come to be used as a general measure of…
Visit the European Parliament page on
Visit the European Parliament page on
We write about
RSS Link to Scientific Foresight (STOA)
RSS Link to Members’ Research Service
Blogroll
Disclaimer and Copyright statement
The content of all documents (and articles) contained in this blog is the sole responsibility of the author and any opinions expressed therein do not necessarily represent the official position of the European Parliament. It is addressed to the Members and staff of the EP for their parliamentary work. Reproduction and translation for non-commercial purposes are authorised, provided the source is acknowledged and the European Parliament is given prior notice and sent a copy.
For a comprehensive description of our cookie and data protection policies, please visit Terms and Conditions page.
Copyright © European Union, 2014-2019. All rights reserved.
Be the first to write a comment.