‘The gross domestic product measures neither our wit nor our
courage, neither our wisdom nor our learning, neither of our
compassion nor our devotion to country; it measures everything,
in short, except that which makes life worthwhile.’ — Robert
Kennedy Economic growth brings progress, and progress means
happiness. That is the message of Western capitalism. Progress
is measured by the gross national product (GNP), national
income: the sum total of what a country’s inhabitants earn. The
problem with GNP is that it makes no distinctions between
activities: everything counts. It’s like a calculator that can
only add. No distinction is made between cost and earnings or
between productive and destructive activities. Anything that
happens in the marketplace is considered to be progress. At the
same time, everything that cannot be expressed in money –
regardless of how important it may be for our general well-being
– is neglected. Families, communities and nature, for example,
do not figure into the national income