For much of the twentieth century, Gross Domestic Product became the dominant measure of national success. Policymakers, economists, and international institutions relied on GDP growth rates as shorthand for prosperity, assuming that rising production and consumption equated to improved lives. Yet the cracks in this assumption have become increasingly visible. GDP tells us how much we produce, but it does not tell us how well we live, how fairly resources are shared, or whether our development is sustainable. The United Nations’ Beyond GDP initiative, shaped by the High‑Level Expert Group and articulated in a series of guiding papers, calls for a new compass of progress—one that values what truly counts for people and planet.