Optimist Economy GDP Was Never Going to Make You Happy
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Aug 19, 2025 Discover the surprising limitations of Gross Domestic Product as a measure of our well-being. The discussion delves into the importance of mental health disparities and the unique struggles faced by women. Explore concepts like eudaimonia and why happiness cannot be reduced to GDP numbers. Additionally, learn about America's declining happiness rankings and the complexities of measuring poverty. Join in on imaginative community-driven solutions that emphasize the power of connection with nature and each other for a fulfilling life.
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GDP Measures Size, Not Well‑Being
- GDP measures the size of economic activity, not the quality of life or environmental health.
- It rewards transactions and can count destruction as growth while ignoring unpaid household work.
Kuznets Built GDP For Growth Analysis
- Simon Kuznets developed national income accounts to explain growth and answer wartime production questions.
- He never intended GDP to be a welfare or wellbeing metric.
Look Past The Headline GDP Number
- The GDP components reveal what's driving headline growth, which matters more than the top line.
- Headlines hide that growth can be propped up by rich households while most people see weakened consumption.