Helsinki, Finland – June 11, 2025 — A landmark survey released in April by the Horizon Europe-funded MERGE project reveals that 81% of citizens believe governments should measure a country’s performance beyond gross domestic product (BGDP) indicators. Twenty per cent of them believe BGDP metrics should be more important than GDP, and five per cent suggest that BGDP metrics should fully replace GDP.
The report, titled “Policy Brief: Public support for Beyond GDP indicators and policy frameworks in the European Union”, surveyed 6,000 citizens across Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Poland, and Spain — countries that together represent two-thirds of the EU population — with the sample being nationally representative in each country.
Key findings
- 81% support adopting beyond-GDP indicators to guide national policy.
- 85% value future generations’ wellbeing equally or more than their own.
- 82% agree to donate to a non-profit advocating BGDP if they win a prize from the survey (average donation 24€).
- Top thematic priorities include: health (35%), safety (27%), jobs (23%), education (23%), education (23%), and housing (19%).
“Another relevant insight from this research is that a substantial portion of the public overestimates our economies’ ability to keep growing whilst decreasing resource use and emitting less GHGs,” stated Dr. Mariateresa Silvi, Behavioural Economist at Ghent University. “This optimistic view is increasingly challenged by scientists who argue that decoupling is not happening fast enough to meet the climate goals set in the Paris Agreement. If the public were more aware of this discrepancy, they might be more open to different ways of improving our lives that don’t necessarily rely on constant economic growth.”
Dr. Brent Bleys, Associate Professor in Ecological Economics at Ghent University, stresses, “Respondents across Europe clearly think of societal progress as something larger than incomes or GDP. People were willing to actively engage in support of the Beyond GDP agenda by backing their preferences with actions (i.e., donating money and signing a petition).”
Recommendation for a citizens’ backed beyond-GDP policies
The report urges national governments and EU policymakers to:
- Align indicators with citizen priorities and adopt a Sustainable and Inclusive Wellbeing framework
- Leverage public awareness and increase education on BGDG indicators
- Tailor communication strategies for diverse audiences to solicit public support
- Mind the gap between public expectations and policy feasibility
- Reflect the public’s concern for future generations in policymaking.
About the MERGE project
MERGE is a Horizon Europe-funded Coordination and Support Action (CSA) project that aims to find pathways towards inclusive and sustainable wellbeing. MERGE consists of 16 partners, encompassing research, technical, policy, and civil society organisations.
Media contact
Ly Le
Communications Expert
Demos Helsinki | MERGE
ly.le@demoshelsinki.fi | +358449784988
