Grossly Distorting Perception

[pritchke]

Interesting article on GDP and the economy.

http://www.theecologist.org/archive_...ml?article=364

Several months ago a professor at the University of North Carolina published research that turned beliefs about the economy upside down. Health improves, he said, as the economy shrinks. And as the economy declines, deaths, smoking, obesity, heavy drinking, heart disease and some kinds of back problems all decline as well.

[ 11-26-2003, 06:08 PM: Message edited by: pritchke ]

brilliant article, prtichke, thanks for sharing it [img]smile.gif[/img]

i wonder how long it will take before johnny or k-man tell us this shows what great presidents the bushies have made...

that is, until war spending went and boosted the GDP... [img]graemlins/doh.gif[/img]

[dragon_lord]

[img]graemlins/thumbsup.gif[/img] That article was absolutely right. Economic growth doesnt take into account the environmental and social impact. By the 2.8% GDP growth we got we should have a better quality of life. When in reality we have a collapsing family unit - forced to work more hours than ever, a health system that is falling apart (despite $7b surplus - Aust), under funded education system, huge pollution - widening ozone hole, destruction of forests and wildlife, and are unhappier than ever before. GDP only measures the amount of money/product made; which is utterly useless at telling you anything of importance.