Research Summary for Tani Shaw - PhD Candidate with the Institute for Sustainable Futures, University of Technology, Sydney
Consistent economic growth in recent decades has raised the standards of living for millions of people throughout the world. The pursuit of annual growth in Gross Domestic Product (GDP) has also put our economics at odds with the natural systems which underpin the economy. GDP has moved past the purpose for which it was developed to become the primary economic indicator and quality of life indicator for national economies. The correlation between GDP growth and improved quality of life is also being challenged.
The accelerating demand for natural resources to fuel economic growth places demands on the natural systems upon which human life and all other species depend. The well-being of citizens is also of interest to societies. Is life better? Is the social fabric of society improving and how can this be measured?
The scope of the PhD research to look at how the use of national indicators for the measurement of economic strength, environmental sustainability and societal well-being can help us strike the balance between these three goals.
More refined methods of measuring economic strength, environmental sustainability and societal well-being are now being developed. The emerging field of national indicators provides significant opportunities for developing tools with which to navigate through the constraints of a finite world and progress equitable societal well-being for existing and future generations.
National indicators provide the opportunity for governments to refine the approach in striking the balance between economic strength, environmental sustainability and societal well-being. Which indicators are most suited to this task? How can adoption of these indicators be implemented quickly and effectively? Will this require a significant shift in paradigm? How have such shifts in paradigm occurred in the past? How have the OECD and other national and international organisations managed the change process to date and how can lessons from this be applied to the opportunities which lie ahead?
Tani Shaw recently commenced a PhD on this topic and between 2009 and 2012 will work on empirical research which serves to answer these questions.
Friday, October 9, 2009
Monday, May 25, 2009
2009 OECD World Conference in Korea - Addressing paradigms of what progress means and how best to measure it.
The 3rd world OECD forum will be held in Korea in October of 2009 and the conference will address three key questions:
"What does progress mean for our societies?; What are the new paradigms to measure progress?; and How can there be better policies within these new paradigms to foster the progress of our societies?... To review the Preliminary Agenda (PDF version)" (OECD, 2009, Measuring the Progress of Societies, Available [Online] http://www.oecd.org/document/59/0,3343,en_40033426_40033828_41350843_1_1_1_1,00.html
[Accessed 25 May, 2009]
To register your interest in attending the World Fourm go to http://www.oecd.org/document/59/0,3343,en_40033426_40033828_41350843_1_1_1_1,00.html
"What does progress mean for our societies?; What are the new paradigms to measure progress?; and How can there be better policies within these new paradigms to foster the progress of our societies?... To review the Preliminary Agenda (PDF version)" (OECD, 2009, Measuring the Progress of Societies, Available [Online] http://www.oecd.org/document/59/0,3343,en_40033426_40033828_41350843_1_1_1_1,00.html
[Accessed 25 May, 2009]
To register your interest in attending the World Fourm go to http://www.oecd.org/document/59/0,3343,en_40033426_40033828_41350843_1_1_1_1,00.html
Friday, March 27, 2009
Sustainable Economics
This blog has been set up to facilitate an international discourse around opportunities for transitioning to a paradigm of economics which is environmentally sustainable. If you have an interest in this topic you are welcome to participate.
Below is the scope of this blog.
The neo-classical economic paradigm, although still widely endorsed, has lost its relevance in today's fast-changing and increasingly complex world. The pursuit of an annual growth target in Gross Domestic Product (GDP) has created a scenario where exponential growth can be linked to unsustainable levels of consumption in natural resources.
GDP has moved past the purpose for which it was developed to become the primary economic indicator and a quality of life indicator in developed countries, including Australia. The Australian Bureau of Statistics recognises that national economic indicators need now to incorporate issues of environmental sustainability.
How can the economic frameworks that underpin GDP best be transformed to be more environmentally sustainable and which indicator is best to replace GDP as a primary indicator? Economic approaches better suited to capture the complex non-linear interactions of coupled systems of humans and ecosystems are rapidly gaining momentum. How can these new paradigms, tools and methods be 'mainstreamed'?
Which, more sustainable, national economic indicators are considered to be the most suitable as an alternative to GDP. Who are the key influencers in the development of economic policy in this area? What impacts on accountability frameworks and normative values can be anticipated as a result of the proposed changes? Finally, how best can the change process be triggered and maintained?
The first stage of sharing ideas within this blog is to exchange information on initiatives and literature related to the scope detailed above. If you have any links or names of literature you would recommend this would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you for your time.
Below is the scope of this blog.
The neo-classical economic paradigm, although still widely endorsed, has lost its relevance in today's fast-changing and increasingly complex world. The pursuit of an annual growth target in Gross Domestic Product (GDP) has created a scenario where exponential growth can be linked to unsustainable levels of consumption in natural resources.
GDP has moved past the purpose for which it was developed to become the primary economic indicator and a quality of life indicator in developed countries, including Australia. The Australian Bureau of Statistics recognises that national economic indicators need now to incorporate issues of environmental sustainability.
How can the economic frameworks that underpin GDP best be transformed to be more environmentally sustainable and which indicator is best to replace GDP as a primary indicator? Economic approaches better suited to capture the complex non-linear interactions of coupled systems of humans and ecosystems are rapidly gaining momentum. How can these new paradigms, tools and methods be 'mainstreamed'?
Which, more sustainable, national economic indicators are considered to be the most suitable as an alternative to GDP. Who are the key influencers in the development of economic policy in this area? What impacts on accountability frameworks and normative values can be anticipated as a result of the proposed changes? Finally, how best can the change process be triggered and maintained?
The first stage of sharing ideas within this blog is to exchange information on initiatives and literature related to the scope detailed above. If you have any links or names of literature you would recommend this would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you for your time.
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