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A pragmatic approach to evaluate alternative indicators to GDP

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  • L. Fasolo
  • M. Galetto
  • E. Turina

Abstract

The serious economic crisis broken out in 2008 highly stressed the limitations of GDP used as a well-being indicator and as a predictive tool for economy. This induced the need to identify new indicators able to link the economic prosperity of a country to aspects of sustainable development and externalities, both positive and negative, in the long run. The aim of this paper is to introduce a structured approach which supports the choice or the construction of alternative indicators to GDP. The starting point is the definition of what a well-being indicator actually should represent according to the Recommendations of the Stiglitz-Sen-Fitoussi Report on the measurement of economic performance and social progress. Then the paper introduces a systematic procedure for the analysis of well-being indicators. The different phases of this procedure entail the checking of indicators technical properties and their effect on the representational efficacy. Finally, some of the most representative well-being indicators drawn from the literature are compared and a detailed application example is proposed. Copyright Springer Science+Business Media B.V. 2013

Suggested Citation

  • L. Fasolo & M. Galetto & E. Turina, 2013. "A pragmatic approach to evaluate alternative indicators to GDP," Quality & Quantity: International Journal of Methodology, Springer, vol. 47(2), pages 633-657, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:qualqt:v:47:y:2013:i:2:p:633-657
    DOI: 10.1007/s11135-011-9537-7
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    2. Behrendt, Katja & Groene, Oliver, 2016. "Mechanisms and effects of public reporting of surgeon outcomes: A systematic review of the literature," Health Policy, Elsevier, vol. 120(10), pages 1151-1161.

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