Overview

This book sheds light on both international and Canadian experiences of moving beyond GDP and bringing new ways to measure what matters into decisions about policy and societal priorities. Towards Sustainable Well-Being examines existing efforts and emerging possibilities to improve upon gross domestic product as the dominant indicator of economic and social performance. Contributions from leading international and Canadian researchers in the field of beyond-GDP measurement offer a rich range of perspectives on alternative ways to measure well-being and sustainability, along with lessons from around the world on how to bring those metrics into the policy process. Key topics include the policy and political impacts of major beyond-GDP measurement initiatives; the most promising possibilities and policy applications for beyond-GDP measurement; key barriers to introducing beyond-GDP metrics; and complementary measures to ensure new measurements are not merely calculated but taken into account in policymaking. The book highlights a distinction between a reformist beyond-GDP vision, which seeks to improve policymaking and quality of life within existing political and economic institutions, and a transformative vision aiming for more fundamental change including a move beyond economic growth. Illustrating the many advances that have occurred in Canada and internationally, Towards Sustainable Well-Being proposes next steps for both the reformist and transformative visions, as well as possible common ground between them in the pursuit of sustainable well-being.

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9781487507848

Table of Contents

Reviews

Towards Sustainable Well-Being is an outstanding collection of contributions from leading authorities that provides both depth and breadth on the development and evolution of the beyond-GDP movement. Drawing on foremost international and Canadian examples, each chapter provides an unblinking, critical gaze on the issues, challenges to, and opportunities for a well-being agenda. This is a 'must-have' book for anyone interested in a future society focused on well-being! - Bryan Smale, Professor and Director, Canadian Index of Wellbeing, University of Waterloo GDP tells us that growth is good and that bigger is better. As long as we use the inadequate and distorted data that GDP measures, our main 'progress' will continue to be towards greater inequity, social malaise, and ecological collapse. Towards Sustainable Well-Being shows us how to move beyond GDP and rescue humanity from a flawed accounting system that is the origin of so many wicked problems. - Hon. Peter Bevan-Baker, Leader of the Official Opposition, Prince Edward Island

""" Towards Sustainable Well-Being is an outstanding collection of contributions from leading authorities that provides both depth and breadth on the development and evolution of the beyond-GDP movement. Drawing on foremost international and Canadian examples, each chapter provides an unblinking, critical gaze on the issues, challenges to, and opportunities for a well-being agenda. This is a 'must-have' book for anyone interested in a future society focused on well-being!"" --Bryan Smale, Professor and Director, Canadian Index of Wellbeing, University of Waterloo ""GDP tells us that growth is good and that bigger is better. As long as we use the inadequate and distorted data that GDP measures, our main 'progress' will continue to be towards greater inequity, social malaise, and ecological collapse. Towards Sustainable Well-Being shows us how to move beyond GDP and rescue humanity from a flawed accounting system that is the origin of so many wicked problems."" --Hon. Peter Bevan-Baker, Leader of the Official Opposition, Prince Edward Island"

Towards Sustainable Well-Being is an outstanding collection of contributions from leading authorities that provides both depth and breadth on the development and evolution of the beyond-GDP movement. Drawing on foremost international and Canadian examples, each chapter provides an unblinking, critical gaze on the issues, challenges to, and opportunities for a well-being agenda. This is a 'must-have' book for anyone interested in a future society focused on well-being! - Bryan Smale, Professor and Director, Canadian Index of Wellbeing, University of Waterloo GDP tells us that growth is good and that bigger is better. As long as we use the inadequate and distorted data that GDP measures, our main 'progress' will continue to be towards greater inequity, social malaise, and ecological collapse. Towards Sustainable Well-Being shows us how to move beyond GDP and rescue humanity from a flawed accounting system that is the origin of so many wicked problems. - Hon. Peter Bevan-Baker, Leader of the Official Opposition, Prince Edward Island

Author Information

ANDERS HAYDEN is an associate professor in the Department of Political Science at Dalhousie University. COFRIDE GAUDET, a retired federal government economist and policy analyst, was the Public Servant in Residence at Dalhousie University's School for Resource and Environmental Studies from 2017-2019. JEFFREY WILSON is an assistant professor in the School of Environment, Enterprise, and Development at the University of Waterloo.

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