Achieving the 2030 Agenda and the EU’s policies on environmental and social sustainability requires a comprehensive measure of human progress that does not focus solely on GDP but goes beyond it. To address this challenge, many competing indicators and policy frameworks have emerged. Broadly speaking, ‘beyond GDP’ refers to an approach advocating the use of alternative indicators and accelerating a sustainability transformation to move away from the current dominance of GDP growth. It suggests adopting alternative metrics that better capture wellbeing, social equity, and environmental sustainability. As an approach that brings together diverse stakeholders, it is rich in concepts and ideas for alternative metrics and future pathways. To enhance the uptake of this increasingly popular approach, it is important to better understand stakeholders’ awareness and perceptions of beyond GDP concepts and metrics.
This report presents the findings of survey and interview data collected by MERGE in June-October 2024. The online survey explored the significance of GDP in policymaking, the use of metrics, datasets and models, awareness of beyond GDP concepts and the barriers and drivers of moving beyond GDP. The survey was answered by 132 individuals representing researchers, policymakers, NGO actors and others (e.g. people working in the media and business). Interviews with eight EU level policymakers were conducted to deepen the understanding of policymakers’ views on the survey topics.
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Authors:
Tuuli Hirvilammi, Tampere University
Alisa Rannikko, Tampere University
Oskari Hakala, Tampere University
Irene Fattacciu, PIN /University of Florence
Andrea Ferrannini, PIN /University of Florence
Laura Rayner, European Policy Centre
Tommaso Grossi, European Policy Centre
Danielle Brady, European Policy Centre
Christoph Gran, ZOE Institute for Future-fit Economies
