Measuring Progress Beyond GDP: A Theoretical Perspective

2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 143-165
Author(s):  
V. K. Shrotryia ◽  
Shashank Vikram Pratap Singh
Keyword(s):  
Theoretical Perspective ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Inclusive Development ◽  
Human Beings ◽  
Economic Activities ◽  
Development Policies ◽  
Universal Indicator ◽  
Social Environmental ◽  
Beyond Gdp ◽  
Critical Aspects

Inclusive development policies and comprehensive strategies are extremely critical aspects of the holistic progress of a nation. The measurement of considerable progress through the indicator/indicators is equally important. What if the selected indicator(s) are inappropriate? It can mislead people and policymakers. That is exactly what is happening to gross domestic product (GDP) as an indicator for measuring the overall progress of any nation. Through this academic article, an attempt has been made to address the following questions. Why do social, environmental, and human-centric indictors reveal an altogether different position concerning the health of the economy? Are we making deliberate mistakes while considering GDP as a gospel indicator for each and everything? Does it reflect the welfare aspects of human beings? Does it accurately reflect the well-being of people? The prolonged followed GDP-driven policies are inadequate for measuring the overall progress of a nation. The progress of a nation cannot be accurately reflected through GDP as an indicator. After an extensive review, the authors found that GDP was intentionally developed for measuring only economic activities which cannot be equated with social or human well-being. The possible outcomes of GDP-driven policies have been reflected through various human, social, and environment-centric indicators, which thoughtfully provide ample grounding to authors to fulminate against the philosophical notion of GDP as a universal indicator for measuring overall national progress/human well-being. This article can add to the literature of “why happiness movement.” This article can provide sufficient theoretical grounds to move beyond GDP and look for some other holistic indicator(s).

scholarly journals Reconstructing the Economy: A Methodological Journey from the Surface to the Essence and Back

2011 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 483-493
Author(s):  
Peter Karl Fleissner
Keyword(s):  
New Technologies ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Human Beings ◽  
Economic Activities ◽  
New Science ◽  
Related Information ◽  
Protection Mechanisms ◽  
Abstract Level ◽  
The Many ◽  
Copy Protection

The essential methodology in social science to “understand” phenomena is informed abstraction. But the way - how and what for the abstraction process is shaped - divides the economists into various schools. While mainstream econ- omists abstract from any links of the economy to human beings - replacing them by selfish machines maximizing their prof- its or individual utilities, and neglecting any deeper analysis of the basic constructions they use (like prices or money), heterodox economists try to look behind the surface, link them to certain periods of history and to the source of all value: humans are social beings and cannot exist without mutuality. The paper presents a heterodox way to reconstruct contempo- rary capitalist economies by applying the new science of information with its evolutionary concepts. It starts the description on a very abstract level: useful things and services produced by specialized labor. Step by step new layers of economic activities and related information are added and become the basis for the next one. Vice versa economic activities on lower layers become controlled and modified by higher layers. One can see that the higher controlling principles in contemporary capitalist economies do not assist the economic, social, and cultural well-being of the majority of people, but function ac- cording to the self-interest of a minority. For the first time in history capitalism has developed new technologies that in prin- ciple could allow for the participation of the many, to create abundance of information, and to offer tools for building a de- mocratic and sustainable society. But by the same capitalism, rigid Intellectual Property Rights and severe copy protection mechanisms enforce artificial shortage of information goods.

scholarly journals Reconstructing the Economy: A Methodological Journey from the Surface to the Essence and Back

2011 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 483-493
Author(s):  
Peter Karl Fleissner
Keyword(s):  
New Technologies ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Human Beings ◽  
Economic Activities ◽  
New Science ◽  
Related Information ◽  
Protection Mechanisms ◽  
Abstract Level ◽  
The Many ◽  
Copy Protection

The essential methodology in social science to “understand” phenomena is informed abstraction. But the way - how and what for the abstraction process is shaped - divides the economists into various schools. While mainstream econ- omists abstract from any links of the economy to human beings - replacing them by selfish machines maximizing their prof- its or individual utilities, and neglecting any deeper analysis of the basic constructions they use (like prices or money), heterodox economists try to look behind the surface, link them to certain periods of history and to the source of all value: humans are social beings and cannot exist without mutuality. The paper presents a heterodox way to reconstruct contempo- rary capitalist economies by applying the new science of information with its evolutionary concepts. It starts the description on a very abstract level: useful things and services produced by specialized labor. Step by step new layers of economic activities and related information are added and become the basis for the next one. Vice versa economic activities on lower layers become controlled and modified by higher layers. One can see that the higher controlling principles in contemporary capitalist economies do not assist the economic, social, and cultural well-being of the majority of people, but function ac- cording to the self-interest of a minority. For the first time in history capitalism has developed new technologies that in prin- ciple could allow for the participation of the many, to create abundance of information, and to offer tools for building a de- mocratic and sustainable society. But by the same capitalism, rigid Intellectual Property Rights and severe copy protection mechanisms enforce artificial shortage of information goods.

scholarly journals A sustentabilidade e o desenvolvimento sustentável na educação em engenharia

2016 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 306 ◽  
Author(s):  
Solange Maria Loureiro ◽  
Vera Lúcia Duarte do Valle Pereira ◽  
Waldemar Pacheco Júnior
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Social Inequalities ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Future Generations ◽  
Economic Activities ◽  
New Professionals ◽  
The Sustainable Development ◽  
The People ◽  
Sustainable Societies ◽  
Social Environmental

One of the challenges of this century is related to the perspective that the societies become socially, environmentally and economically sustainable in order to satisfy the needs of present generations without reducing the chances of the future generations to achieve theirs. It is through higher education that new professionals start acting, thus, influence how current and future generations deal with the social, environmental and economic issues, i.e., with the sustainability and the Sustainable Development (SD). So, it is responsibility of higher education to provide to the people competencies to enable them to deal with the technical and environmental challenges through solutions that minimize environmental impacts and social inequalities. As the engineers have direct relationship to the production of knowledge and technologies that directly impact society and the environment is essential that the engineering background allows them to design technologies and economic activities to sustain rather than degrade the natural environment and improve health and human well-being. In this context, this paper aims to reflect about the vision of sustainability/DS required for engineering education so that it may contribute to make sustainable societies.

scholarly journals Does China’s Anti-Poverty Relocation and Settlement Program Benefit Ecosystem Services: Evidence from a Household Perspective

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 600 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cong Li ◽  
Bowei Kang ◽  
Lei Wang ◽  
Shuzhuo Li ◽  
Marcus Feldman ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Ecosystem Services ◽  
Rural Households ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Policy Implications ◽  
Shaanxi Province ◽  
Income Generation ◽  
Net Income ◽  
Economic Activities ◽  
Development Policies ◽  
Using Data

To assess whether and to what extent the anti-poverty relocation and settlement program (APRSP) in China will be able to resolve the development dilemma of ecosystem conservation and human wellbeing, it is important to study the effects of policy on rural households in terms of the income generation from ecosystem services (ES). We constructed an index of dependence on ecosystem services (IDES) to evaluate the dependence of households’ net income generation on ecosystem services. Using data collected from South Shaanxi Province, we examined the effects of the relocation program on rural households’ IDES. We find that this relocation may benefit the ecosystem by significantly decreasing participants’ IDES. Relocation households have higher net incomes than non-relocation households from total ecosystem services, provisioning services, regulating services, and cultural services as well as socio-economic activities. There are significant differences in IDES between groups with different relocation and resettlement characteristics. The anti-poverty relocation program optimized the rural households’ income structure by increasing the proportion of income from socio-economic activities while reducing the proportion of income from ecosystem services. This study provides new evidence for evaluating eco-conservation and development policies by linking ecosystem services and human well-being at a micro scale. We also address the policy implications of our analysis for anti-poverty relocation programs.

Beyond GDP: The Quest for a Measure of Social Welfare. Part I

2012 ◽  
pp. 67-93 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Fleurbaey
Keyword(s):  
Economic Theory ◽  
Social Welfare ◽  
Well Being ◽  
National Product ◽  
Future Generations ◽  
Modern Economic ◽  
Aggregate Wealth ◽  
Net National Product ◽  
Sustainability Policy ◽  
Beyond Gdp

The first part of the paper is devoted to the monetary indicators of social welfare. It is shown which methods of quantitative estimating the aggregate wealth and well-being are available in the modern economic theory apart from the traditional GDP measure. The limitations of the methods are also discussed. The author shows which measures of welfare are adequate in the dynamic context: he considers the problems of intertemporal welfare analysis using the Net National Product (NNP) for the sustainability policy and in the context of concern for well-being of the future generations.

Beyond GDP: The Quest for a Measure of Social Welfare. Part II

2012 ◽  
pp. 32-51 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Fleurbaey
Keyword(s):  
Social Welfare ◽  
Social Relations ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Welfare Economics ◽  
Subjective Well Being ◽  
Alternative Approaches ◽  
Micro Level ◽  
Beyond Gdp

The second part of the paper is devoted to the non-monetary indicators of social welfare. Various approaches to the study of subjective well-being and happiness are described. The author shows what problems a researcher would encounter trying to analyze welfare on the micro-level and to take account of the cognitive and affective aspects of the individuals assessment of their well-being, as well as the relevance of social relations. The author also shows to what extent the alternative approaches, particularly the analysis of functionings and capabilities advanced by A. Sen are compatible to the modern welfare economics and what prospects the latter has.

Persons Together

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alan L. Mittleman
Keyword(s):  
Human Nature ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Image Of God ◽  
Jewish Tradition ◽  
The Political ◽  
Human Beings ◽  
Human Flourishing ◽  
Political Dimensions ◽  
Market Relations ◽  
The Image Of God

This chapter moves into the political and economic aspects of human nature. Given scarcity and interdependence, what sense has Judaism made of the material well-being necessary for human flourishing? What are Jewish attitudes toward prosperity, market relations, labor, and leisure? What has Judaism had to say about the political dimensions of human nature? If all humans are made in the image of God, what does that original equality imply for political order, authority, and justice? In what kinds of systems can human beings best flourish? It argues that Jewish tradition shows that we act in conformity with our nature when we elevate, improve, and sanctify it. As co-creators of the world with God, we are not just the sport of our biochemistry. We are persons who can select and choose among the traits that comprise our very own natures, cultivating some and weeding out others.

SUSTAINABLE LIVELIHOOD THROUGH SKILL DEVELOPMENT AMONG RURAL YOUTH: ROLE OF MICRO-FINANCE IN THE DEVELOPMENTAL PARADIGM

2017 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 156-173
Author(s):  
Vikram Singh
Keyword(s):  
Social Interactions ◽  
Skill Development ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Rural Youth ◽  
Inclusive Development ◽  
Sustainable Livelihood ◽  
Theoretical Understanding ◽  
Societal Structure ◽  
Policy Shifts

This  article  attempts to  analyse  the  process  of  sustainable  livelihood  through skill development and its conceptual and theoretical understanding in India with reference to rural youth. In India skill development is demanded for economic growth and inclusive development; hence the rural population cannot be overlooked. Employable skills alone have not been able to generate sufficient employment among rural youth or address/promote well-being and sustainable livelihood. Various frameworks associated with skill development leave scope for reforms to strengthen the implementation of various policy shifts in respect of rural development and government/non-government organisations. The process of skill development for rural youth through the establishment of institutions, launch of policy/programmes and their linkages with micro-finance are considered, as the distinctive nature and features of micro-finance in relation to the forces of societal structure, social relationships, and social interactions leading towards collective interests and norms that shape the lives of rural youth. Lastly, analysis is done and conclusions drawn on the basis of discussion.

Promotion of Sustainable Livelihood through Skill Development Among Rural Youth - Role of Micro-Finance in Developmental Paradigm

2016 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Vikram Singh
Keyword(s):  
Skill Development ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Rural Youth ◽  
Inclusive Development ◽  
Sustainable Livelihood ◽  
Theoretical Understanding ◽  
Government Organizations ◽  
Policy Shift ◽  
Development Paradigm

The present paper attempts to analyze the process of sustainable livelihood through skill development and its conceptual and theoretical understanding in India with reference to rural youth. In India skill development is demanded for economic growth and inclusive development, hence rural population cannot be overlooked. It also tries to highlight that employable skills alone have not been able to sufficiently generate employment among rural youth despite it wont address/promote the well-being process and sustainable livelihood. It is also based on the assumption that various frameworks associated with skill development leave scope for reforms as the gaps prevails that weaken implementation addressed by various policy shift in rural development paradigm and government/non-government organizations. The paper also aspires to look into the process of skill development towards rural youth through establishments of institutions, launch of policy/programmes and their linkages with micro-finance. It also look into the distinctive nature/features of micro-finance against the dominant forces of societal structure, social relationships, social interactions leading towards collective interests and norms that shape the quality and quantity of lives of individuals. Lastly analysis and conclusion have been made on the basis of discussion.

scholarly journals Connecting Climate and Communicable Disease to Penta Helix Using Hierarchical Likelihood Structural Equation Modelling

Symmetry ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 657
Author(s):  
Rezzy Eko Caraka ◽  
Maengseok Noh ◽  
Rung-Ching Chen ◽  
Youngjo Lee ◽  
Prana Ugiana Gio ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Latent Variables ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Healthy Lifestyle ◽  
Communicable Disease ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Human Beings ◽  
The Sustainable Development ◽  
Healthcare Facilities ◽  
Hierarchical Likelihood

Design: Health issues throughout the sustainable development goals have also been integrated into one ultimate goal, which helps to ensure a healthy lifestyle as well as enhances well-being for any and all human beings of all social level. Meanwhile, regarding the clime change, we may take urgent action to its impacts. Purpose: Nowadays, climate change makes it much more difficult to control the pattern of diseases transmitted and sometimes hard to prevent. In line with this, Centres for Disease Control (CDC) Taiwan grouped the spread of disease through its source in the first six main groups. Those are food or waterborne, airborne or droplet, vector-borne, sexually transmitted or blood-borne, contact transmission, and miscellaneous. According to this, academics, government, and the private sector should work together and collaborate to maintain the health issue. This article examines and connects the climate and communicable aspects towards Penta-Helix in Taiwan. Finding: In summary, we have been addressing the knowledge center on the number of private companies throughout the health care sector, the number of healthcare facilities, and the education institutions widely recognized as Penta Helix. In addition, we used hierarchical likelihood structural equation modeling (HSEMs). All the relationship variables among climate, communicable disease, and Penta Helix can be interpreted through the latent variables with GoF 79.24%.

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