Indicators

Better indicators on environmental issues, human and social well-being have been developed around the world.

International networks and governing bodies of international organisations are developing a plethora of indicators on almost all dimensions of society. Non Governmental Organisations (NGOs) are also developing their own indicator systems to monitor economic, social and environmental trends and the implementation of commitments to improvement which have made by governments.

In some countries, civil society is taking the lead in calling for – even building – sets of progress measures, while governments are seeking new ways to collaborate with civil society to gain legitimacy for their role. 

Many approaches are possible to measure societal progress, but they generally fall into three broad types:

• the "corrections" to existing GDP and the extension of the basic national accounts schemes to cover social and environmental dimensions;

• the use of a wide range of indicators referring to economic, social and environmental dimensions (the use of composite indicators to summarise them in a single number is also possible); 

• the use of “subjective” measures of well-being, life-satisfaction or happiness.

A World of Indicators

Indexes to correct GDP

The Index of Sustainable Economic Welfare (ISEW) is one of the most ambitious efforts to reform the calculation of an indicator of economic welfare.

Genuine Progress Indicator  or better AdjustedNet Saving, the GPI starts with the same personal consumption data that the GDP is based on, but then makes some crucial distinctions. It adjusts for factors such as income distribution, adds factors such as the value of household and volunteer work, and subtracts factors such as the costs of crime and pollution.

Genuine Savings is a sustainability indicator building on the concepts of green national accounts.

Indicator Suites

Calvert-Henderson Quality of Life Indicators are a contribution to develop comprehensive statistics of national well-being that go beyond traditional macroeconomic indicators.

Composite Indexes

The Happy Planet Index is an innovative new measure to combine the environmental impact with human well-being, to measure the environmental efficiency of which country by country people live long and happy lives.

The Living Planet Index measures trends in the Earth’s biological diversity. See also Living Planet Report (full report 2008, PDF version)

Social Institutions and Gender Index (SIGI), a new index to track the causes of gender discrimination in 102 developing countries.

Regional or community Indicators

Canadian Index of Wellbeing is a measure for gauging the wellbeing of Canadian's lives.

Measuring Ireland's Progress is a yearly report published by the Central Statistical Office.It shows the progress made in Ireland in important economic, social and environmental areas.

Community Indicators Victoria Australia is a collaborative project to improve citizen engagement, community planning and policy making, using local community wellbeing indicators.