GDP And WELLBEING

  Read through the shortcomings of GDP identified in your textbook. Next look at this https://www.cbsnews.com/news/why-gdp-fails-as-a-measure-of-well-being/. article published by CBS News. Do you agree with the author's assessment that GDP fails to measure well being? Why (or why not)? Are there things that contribute to your well-being and happiness but are excluded from the calculation of GDP? Share an example and describe why it might be excluded from the GDP calculation.    
GDP, or Gross Domestic Product, is a measure of the total value of goods and services produced in a country in a given year. It is often used as a measure of a country's economic health and well-being. However, there are a number of shortcomings to using GDP as a measure of well-being. Some of the shortcomings of GDP identified in my textbook include:
  • GDP does not account for the distribution of income. A country with a high GDP could have a small number of very wealthy people and a large number of poor people, and GDP would not reflect this.
  • GDP does not account for the value of non-market goods and services. These include things like volunteer work, housework, and leisure time.
  • GDP does not account for the environmental impact of economic activity. A country that produces a lot of pollution could have a high GDP, but this would not reflect the negative impact of pollution on the environment.
The article published by CBS News also identifies some of the shortcomings of GDP as a measure of well-being. The author argues that GDP does not account for things like happiness, health, and social relationships. These are all important factors that contribute to well-being, but they are not included in the calculation of GDP. I agree with the author's assessment that GDP fails to measure well-being. GDP is a useful measure of economic activity, but it is not a good measure of well-being. There are many things that contribute to well-being that are not included in the calculation of GDP. One example of something that contributes to my well-being and happiness but is excluded from the calculation of GDP is spending time with my family and friends. I value my relationships with my loved ones, but these relationships do not have a monetary value. Therefore, they are not included in the calculation of GDP. Another example of something that contributes to my well-being and happiness but is excluded from the calculation of GDP is my health. I am fortunate to be healthy, and I value my health very much. However, my health does not have a monetary value. Therefore, it is not included in the calculation of GDP. I believe that there is a need for a better measure of well-being than GDP. A better measure of well-being would take into account the things that really matter to people, such as their relationships, their health, and their sense of purpose.

Sample Solution

GDP, or Gross Domestic Product, is a measure of the total value of goods and services produced in a country