A NEW book could help steer us away from the dominance of gross domestic product (GDP) as a key measure of economic progress, according to a former MP.
Roger Mullin, a member of the Sustainable Growth Commission set up by the First Minister, says Replacing GDP by 2030, written by environmental economist Rutger Hoekstra, “should be required reading for every economic minister and spokesperson” and every research body in Scotland.
READ MORE: Roger Mullin: This is why we need to rethink Scotland's GDP focus
Writing in The National, ex-SNP MP Mullin says: “My problem is not with a critique of GDP.
“My problem is I am also very critical of a lack of progress regarding replacing GDP by something that both works better and has sufficient rigour to command widespread respect.”
He says the book highlights the 1000 or so measures which have been created in recent decades to challenge GDP – all of which have failed.
READ MORE: Stark warning that May's Brexit deal will be £100 billion hit to GDP
Hoekstra, he says, is convinced that GDP has to be replaced, but recognises the challenges we face while calling for a new strategy until we reach a point where a replacement can be found.
“Although I agree with much of his critique of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals lacking a sufficient scientific basis and lacking effective integration of targets, I do think the international political movement around them can play a stronger role in the future than described in the book.
“But the overall analysis presented is impressive and convincing. The intellectual rigour is outstanding.”
READ MORE: The world’s gone mad and we need independence if we’re to help fix it
Mullin adds: “From my perspective, at last we have a contribution to the beyond-GDP debate that may just help move things forward to the benefit of mankind.
“Scotland has been at the forefront of a range of recent initiatives regarding environmental impact. Hopefully Scotland can play its part in the challenge to move beyond GDP.”
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions. What should we do with our second vote in 2021? What happens if Westminster says no to indyref2?
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversation, register under fake names, and post vile abuse. We’ve had hundreds of emails from you complaining about this, asking us to take steps to ensure that these people aren’t given a platform on our site.
We’re listening to you, and here’s how we plan to make that happen.
We have decided to make the ability to comment only available to our 12,000 paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them.
We’ll be monitoring this change over the first few weeks, and we’re keen to know your thoughts. Email us at letters@thenational.scot if you want to have your say.
Callum Baird, Editor of The National