The document discusses five excuses for relying solely on GDP as a measure of economic progress and well-being. It presents data showing that in some cases, like in Egypt, GDP has increased without corresponding increases in well-being. It also notes that what is measured affects what actions are taken. The document advocates going beyond GDP to better capture concepts like life satisfaction. It proposes five things that could be done better, such as empowering statisticians to consider additional measures and recognizing the importance of understanding different perspectives.

1. 131
Jon Hall, Human Development Report Office, UNDP
BEYONDGDP
AUNPERSPECTIVE

2. 132
FIVE EXCUSES TO STAY BEHIND GDP
I KNOW THE LIMITATIONS OF GDP BUT….

3. 133
1. GDP correlates with everything that’s important
FIVE EXCUSES TO STAY BEHIND GDP
I KNOW THE LIMITATIONS OF GDP BUT….

4. 134
Growth does not always correlate with other aspects of
development

5. 135
1. GDP correlates with everything that’s important
2. My hands are tied as there’s no political demand
FIVE EXCUSES TO STAY BEHIND GDP
I KNOW THE LIMITATIONS OF GDP BUT….

6. 136
EGYPT GDP & WELL BEING

7. 137
1. GDP correlates with everything that’s important
2. My hands are tied as there’s no political demand
3. My hands are tied as there’s no public demand
FIVE EXCUSES TO STAY BEHIND GDP
I KNOW THE LIMITATIONS OF GDP BUT….

8. 138
PUBLIC DEMAND

9. 139
1. GDP correlates with everything that’s important
2. My hands are tied as there’s no political demand
3. My hands are tied as there’s no public demand
4. Its too political for statisticians
FIVE EXCUSES TO STAY BEHIND GDP
I KNOW THE LIMITATIONS OF GDP BUT….

10. 1310
“What we measure affects what we do. If we have the wrong metrics, we will strive
for the wrong things. In the quest to increase GDP, we may end up with a society
in which most citizens have become worse off.”
Joseph Stiglitz, Nobel Laureate, 2009
STATISTICS ARE POLITICAL

11. 1311
1. GDP correlates with everything that’s important
2. My hands are tied as there’s no political demand
3. My hands are tied as there’s no public demand
4. Its too political for statisticians
5. These new measures aren’t meaningful
FIVE EXCUSES TO STAY BEHIND GDP
I KNOW THE LIMITATIONS OF GDP BUT….

12. 1312
LIFE SATISFACTION VS THE HDI
345678
.2 .4 .6 .8 1
Human Development Index (HDI)
95% CI Fitted values
Overall Life Evaluation

13. 1313
FIVE THINGS TO DO BETTER

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1. Go Beyond the Field of Dreams
FIVE THINGS TO DO BETTER

15. 1315
1. Go Beyond the Field of Dreams
2. Habituating Statisticians & Policy People
FIVE THINGS TO DO BETTER

16. 1316
1. Go Beyond the Field of Dreams
2. Habituating Statisticians & Policy People
FIVE THINGS TO DO BETTER

17. 1317
1. Go Beyond the Field of Dreams
2. Habituating Statisticians & Policy People
3. Empowering Statisticians as Reluctant Revolutionaries
FIVE THINGS TO DO BETTER

18. 1318
1. Go Beyond the Field of Dreams
2. Habituating Statisticians & Policy People
3. Empowering Statisticians as Reluctant Revolutionaries
FIVE THINGS TO DO BETTER

19. 1319
1. Go Beyond the Field of Dreams
2. Habituating Statisticians & Policy People
3. Empowering Statisticians as Reluctant Revolutionaries
4. Investigating Impact
FIVE THINGS TO DO BETTER

20. 1320
1. Go Beyond the Field of Dreams
2. Habituating Statisticians & Policy People
3. Empowering Statisticians as Reluctant Revolutionaries
4. Investigating Impact
FIVE THINGS TO DO BETTER

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1. Go Beyond the Field of Dreams
2. Habituating Statisticians & Policy People
3. Empowering Statisticians as Reluctant Revolutionaries
4. Investigating Impact
5. Recognise the Importance of the Process: Empathy and Understanding
FIVE THINGS TO DO BETTER

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1. Go Beyond the Field of Dreams
2. Habituating Statisticians & Policy People
3. Empowering Statisticians as Reluctant Revolutionaries
4. Investigating Impact
5. Recognise the Importance of the Process: Empathy and Understanding
FIVE THINGS TO DO BETTER

23. 1323
Jonathan.hall@undp.org