PS:As is known to all,GDP is called the best single measure of the economic well-being of a society. And GDP was once used as the only index by our government to assess official's work, which leads the bubble of real estate market.What's more, GDP exclude the cost of pollution, which may offset the gain from increase of GDP. So it's rather essential to pay attention to other index.
Ihe irony is this author emphasizing the flaws of a new index, the sense of happiness.His annalysis is terrific. And he points out that the new measure of will-being is easily desorted by the government. So the truth of data is very important.
This topic is not new, but I appreciate the analysis. That we cannot statistically delude ourselves to national happiness suits our country,too.



Measures of well-being is not fresh.Let's us share a picture.

收了，晚上研究

GDP number is a goal, which unites the whole nation to strive for. On the other hand, although it is somewhat a general measurement, it's not scientific in some aspects, such as the potential cost to achieve it. Besides, foreign investment is counted as foreigners'  GDP, although it may bring wealth and happiness to domestic citizens.

GDP is at first a statistical term rather than a Economic measurement. Let's go back to its definition, the sum up of any domestic product. It is instinct action for the National Bereau of Statistic to sum up all production results of all apartment, once he want to tell us what was going on for economy in a fiscal year. GDP is easy to catch, possible to trace its component and of course, vulnerable to critics.

I'd like to brief the history of GDP. I am not sure since when NBS starts to creat this measure, but it must be long ago. GDP was gain momentum in economics since 1950, after Solow Growth and burst of growth theory after that, partly because it is most convincing measure of growth in macro empirical study. Critics pour after nealy 30 years later, since it reflects things way betraying the essence of human life: happiness. As you can see, it is a measure accepted by economist for its accuracy in growth theory, not for so called hapiness. Even today, GDP is, without any debates among Macro studies, enjoying its popularity. Hence, never those critics aim to attack its wide application in economics.

The real problem is, it is taken by governor to evaluate the performance of state, therefore the state policy is accused of way astray from average citizens' happiness. The extreme case is China, GDP is the score of every mayor and their destiny is determined by. Well, I don't take it a big issue, the government will easily to alter the measure and again to manipulate its servants, GNP or enhanced GDP or something.

For the happiness index mentioned by the author, I totally agree it is a joke. Such idea is hardly innovative, as is being compiled by Nobel Laureate Amartya Sen, under the name of United Nation. Some study, not empirical Macro is already adopting this to measure nation level happiness. But hardly it could be considered by politicians, it is too whimsical and specific, naturally against the need for a general rule to fairly judge every mayor. Politician will look readily to talk about the usage of happiness index, then turn around, to creat GDP for his promotion.