Political Processes Towards New Indicators
- The Gross National Happiness (GNH) network promoting development goals based on non-material values and individual self-development and including “cultural promotion” as a fourth pillar of progress. Originally conceptualized in the Kingdom of Bhutan, the network’s recent international conferences – actively supported by Councillor Sulak Sivaraska – attracted visitors from all over the world.
Read the open letter of the 3rd GNH conference to Nicholas Sarkozy and Joseph Stiglitz here. Visit the official website on the Gross National Happiness Index. Visit the website of the GNH Network. - The European Beyond-GDP conference in 2007 – actively supported by Councillor Anders Wijkman – debated which indices are most appropriate to measure progress, and how these can best be integrated into the decision-making process and taken up by public debate. Due to great interest, the next conference will be held in September 2009. Visit the Beyond-GDP website, including a full video documentation of the conference and further materials and links.
- The Commission on the Measurement of Economic Performance and Social Progress initiated by Nicholas Sarkozy and also including Joseph Stiglitz and Amartya Sen. This commission prepares a first report in 2009 and works closely with the Global Project. Amartya Sen was one of the authors of the report “Human Security Now” issued in 2004 and prepared his own set of indicators.
Read the March 2009 project update by Stiglitz here. Visit the website of the Commission. - The multi-stakeholder Global Project on Measuring Progress hosted by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). Important indicators like the Peace Index or the Happy Planet Index are represented in the process. The next international conference on the topic will be held end of October in Korea.
Read the Istanbul Declaration launching the Global Project here. Visit the website of the Global Project.
