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.
Key Recommendations | Youth Moving Beyond GDP: Intergenerational Equity to Finance What We Value
The event was convened by the partners of the “Youth Moving Beyond GDP” initiative, the Beyond Lab at UN Geneva, The Youth Cafe, UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD) and Rethinking Economics International, in partnership with: the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD), the Governments of Germany, Spain, Zambia as well as Canada’s International Development Research Centre (IDRC); the UN Youth Office; and the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR).
Facts And Figures | Fourth Finance For Development Conference
Through collective efforts to mobilize financing for sustainable development and realize an international financial architecture that serves the needs of all countries, the world can tackle poverty, inequality, hunger, education, the climate crisis, and all 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Investing in sustainable development is not a sectoral endeavor; an investment in one area creates ripple effects throughout the entire economy, creating positive impacts at all levels