How we can go beyond GDP to measure the success of nations

For more than 70 years, GDP has been the most common method for measuring the economic activity of nations. But as a measure, GDP is incomplete, as it does not encompass important factors such as well-being. In new research which applies over 40 indicators covering economics, investments and sustainability to 149 countries, Enrique Rueda-Sabater examines how countries perform in converting their GDP growth into improvements in well-being for their citizens. While some countries, such as Brazil, are very good at converting growth into well-being, others like the U.S., are less so. He writes that governments can take lessons from these results on how to devise inclusive long-term growth strategies.