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
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