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For more than 70 years, GDP has been the most frequently cited and influential indicator of national progress. Yet GDP narrowly focuses on short-term economic growth while ignoring the costs of this growth, including environmental degradation, loss of societal trust, mounting debt, and growing inequality. Decision-making focused on GDP is biased toward short-term economic benefits, overly concerned about what happens in the market economy, and not concerned enough about the consequences of economic growth on other determinants of well-being-especially the environment and community.

But measuring wealth in the broad sense-considering human, natural, social, produced, and financial capital-would give countries new and important insights into the sustainability of their policies.

This seminar will explore the case for wealth as a core measure of national progress. Discussion will focus on the shortcomings of GDP, the benefits of using expanded wealth measures to guide decision-making, and the steps necessary for countries to embrace this new approach to ensure the sustainability of development.

Interpretation in French and English will be available. Register here!