Do well-known indicators really reflect what they are supposed to? Given today’s challenges regarding society, the environment and the economy, the sustainability of our economic system is questioned. GDP is currently one of the most important indicators of our economy and is considered a proxy of economic health and standard of living of a country. However, the measure poses problems in terms of the appropriate portrayal of genuine progress. This thesis aims at proposing alternative measures which represent sustainable development in an improved way over GDP. Thereby, the economic, social and ecological dimensions of sustainable development form the basis of examination. In the first place, GDP is examined for its suitability as a progress indicator. Its relevance in policy making and reasons for its persistence are worked out. Finally, alternatives which are grouped in adjusting, supplementing and replacing GDP, are presented and examined according to their coverage of the sustainable development dimensions. The examination shows that there are indeed measures which represent genuine progress in a better way. However, those indicators pose drawbacks regarding their methodology, credibility and complexity. Therefore, they cannot sufficiently replace or adjust GDP. Supplementing GDP currently appears to be the most feasible approach since it sets GDP in a more sustainable context without neglecting its benefits.
Table of Contents
List of Figures
List of Abbreviations
1. Introduction
1.1 Problem description
1.2 Objective and methods
2. Sustainable development and GDP
2.1 Defining sustainable development
2.2 Defining GDP - Definition and calculation
2.3 Creating GDP - The development of GDP
2.4 Drawbacks and limitations of GDP
2.4.1 Economic drawbacks
2.4.2 Ecological and social drawbacks
2.5 Benefits of the GDP
3. Implications for policy making
3.1 Importance of indicators for political decisions
3.2 GDP affecting economic decisions and policy making
3.3 Barriers to change GDP
3.4 Political efforts towards sustainable development
3.4.1 Stiglitz-Sen-Fitoussi Commission
3.4.2 Enquete Commission "Growth, Prosperity, Quality of Life"
4. Alternatives to GDP in support of sustainable development
4.1 Indicators adjusting GDP
4.1.1 Index of Sustainable Economic Welfare (ISEW) and Genuine Progress Indicator (GPI)..
4.1.2 Green GDP
4.2 Indicator sets supplementing GDP
4.2.1 Green satellite accounts
4.2.2 Sustainable Development Goals (SDG)
4.3 Indicators replacing GDP
4.3.1 Human Development Index (HDI)
4.3.2 Ecological Footprint (EF)
4.3.3 Case Study: Bhutan's Gross National Happiness (GNH)
4.4 Correlations between GDP and sustainability elements
5 Discussion
6 Conclusion
Bibliography
-
¡Carge sus propios textos! Gane dinero y un iPhone X. -
¡Carge sus propios textos! Gane dinero y un iPhone X. -
¡Carge sus propios textos! Gane dinero y un iPhone X. -
¡Carge sus propios textos! Gane dinero y un iPhone X. -
¡Carge sus propios textos! Gane dinero y un iPhone X. -
¡Carge sus propios textos! Gane dinero y un iPhone X. -
¡Carge sus propios textos! Gane dinero y un iPhone X. -
¡Carge sus propios textos! Gane dinero y un iPhone X. -
¡Carge sus propios textos! Gane dinero y un iPhone X. -
¡Carge sus propios textos! Gane dinero y un iPhone X. -
¡Carge sus propios textos! Gane dinero y un iPhone X. -
¡Carge sus propios textos! Gane dinero y un iPhone X.