The Genuine Progress Indicator (GPI): Exploring current topics and prospects for the future

Jon Erickson, University of Vermont (panelist)
Eli Lazarus, UC Berkeley (panelist)
Rob Moore, Scioto Analysis (panelist)
Regina Ostergaard-Klem, Hawaii Pacific University (panelist and moderator)

The Genuine Progress Indicator (GPI) is a method to more accurately and holistically capture and evaluate social welfare benefits and costs not evident in conventional GDP accounting. Building upon a 50-year history that includes earlier indicators such as Nordhaus and Tobin’s Measure of Economic Welfare (MEW) in 1972 and Daly and Cobb’s Index of Sustainable Economic Welfare (ISEW) in 1989, GPI is one tool within a broader movement to go “beyond GDP.” Currently, some GPI researchers are focused on developing a better, more robust, and consistent model – GPI 2.0. This group of panelists will take stock of GPI in today’s world, point to recent updates, discuss current topics and issues, and provide observations on future prospects in both research and policy applications.