Measuring progress. Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and alternative indicators in the context of sustainable development

Bachelor Thesis from the year 2021 in the subject Economics - Other, grade: 1,3, University of Applied Sciences Dortmund, language: English, abstract: 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.