The Power of a Single Number


Book Description

Widely used since the mid-twentieth century, GDP (gross domestic product) has become the world's most powerful statistical indicator of national development and progress. Practically all governments adhere to the idea that GDP growth is a primary economic target, and while criticism of this measure has grown, neither its champions nor its detractors deny its central importance in our political culture. In The Power of a Single Number, Philipp Lepenies recounts the lively history of GDP's political acceptance—and eventual dominance. Locating the origins of GDP measurements in Renaissance England, Lepenies explores the social and political factors that originally hindered its use. It was not until the early 1900s that an ingenuous lone-wolf economist revived and honed GDP's statistical approach. These ideas were then extended by John Maynard Keynes, and a more focused study of national income was born. American economists furthered this work by emphasizing GDP's ties to social well-being, setting the stage for its ascent. GDP finally achieved its singular status during World War II, assuming the importance it retains today. Lepenies's absorbing account helps us understand the personalities and popular events that propelled GDP to supremacy and clarifies current debates over the wisdom of the number's rule.




Understanding National Accounts Second Edition


Book Description

This is an update of OECD 2006 "Understanding National Accounts". It contains new data, new chapters and is adapted to the new systems of national accounts, SNA 2008 and ESA 2010.




Beyond Economic Growth


Book Description

The book, which draws on data published by the World Bank, is addressed to teachers, students, and all those interested in exploring issues of global development.




What Really Counts


Book Description

Politicians and economists fixate on “growing the economy”—measured by a country’s gross domestic product. But this yardstick counts harmful activities such as greenhouse gas emissions, plastic waste, and cigarette sales as gains, and it ignores environmental protection, voluntary community work, and other benefits. What we measure is a choice, and what is and isn’t counted determines what sorts of policies are enacted. How can we shift the focus to well-being and quality of life? What Really Counts is an essential, firsthand story of the promise and challenges of accounting for social, economic, and environmental benefits and costs. Ronald Colman recounts two decades of working with three governments to adopt measures that more accurately and comprehensively assess true progress. Chronicling his path from Nova Scotia to New Zealand to Bhutan, Colman details the challenge of devising meaningful metrics, the effort to lay the foundations of a new economic system, and the obstacles that stand in the way. Reflecting on successes and failures, he considers how to shift policy priorities from a narrow economic-growth agenda toward a future built on sustainability and equity. Colman has taken the critique of GDP outside the academy and attempted to realize an alternative. The lessons he offers in What Really Counts are vital for anyone interested in how we can measure what matters—and how better measures can help build a better world.




Doing Business 2020


Book Description

Seventeen in a series of annual reports comparing business regulation in 190 economies, Doing Business 2020 measures aspects of regulation affecting 10 areas of everyday business activity.




Global Economic Prospects, June 2021


Book Description

The world economy is experiencing a very strong but uneven recovery, with many emerging market and developing economies facing obstacles to vaccination. The global outlook remains uncertain, with major risks around the path of the pandemic and the possibility of financial stress amid large debt loads. Policy makers face a difficult balancing act as they seek to nurture the recovery while safeguarding price stability and fiscal sustainability. A comprehensive set of policies will be required to promote a strong recovery that mitigates inequality and enhances environmental sustainability, ultimately putting economies on a path of green, resilient, and inclusive development. Prominent among the necessary policies are efforts to lower trade costs so that trade can once again become a robust engine of growth. This year marks the 30th anniversary of the Global Economic Prospects. The Global Economic Prospects is a World Bank Group Flagship Report that examines global economic developments and prospects, with a special focus on emerging market and developing economies, on a semiannual basis (in January and June). Each edition includes analytical pieces on topical policy challenges faced by these economies.




Gross National Happiness and Macroeconomic Indicators in the Kingdom of Bhutan


Book Description

This paper examines the origins and use of the concept of Gross National Happiness (or subjective well-being) in the Kingdom of Bhutan, and the relationship between measured well-being and macroeconomic indicators. While there are only a few national surveys of Gross National Happiness in Bhutan, the concept has been used to guide public policymaking for the country’s various Five-Year Plans. Consistent with the Easterlin Paradox, available evidence indicates that Bhutan’s rapid increase in national income is only weakly associated with increases in measured levels of well-being. It will be important for Bhutan to undertake more frequent Gross National Happiness surveys and evaluations, to better build evidence for comovement of well-being and macroeconomic concepts such as real national income.




Marketing in Central and Eastern Europe


Book Description

Since the sudden opening of the markets in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) in 1989, there has been a growing need to investigate the fundamental changes occurring in the countries’marketing environment, the lucrative market opportunities created by the changes, and the inscrutable marketing practice followed by local and international companies. Marketing in Central and Eastern Europe helps you understand the changes taking place in these valuable and challenging markets and introduces you to the emerging opportunities and effective marketing strategies to be employed in the region. Researchers specializing in CEE business; managers of international companies operating in or contemplating entering CEE markets; and students studying CEE business, East-West business, or marketing in transitional economies will better understand the region by examining issues of cross- cultural inquiry, commonality, and market segmentation. Marketing in Central and Eastern Europe also provides you with: a region-relevant market analysis to determine environmental dimensions of emerging markets a preliminary report on market-entry strategies in Poland an assessment of foreign direct investment opportunities in Hungary a study of Western-style marketing applied in transitional economies an analysis of marketization and Westernization used as classifying dimensions information on increasing the validity of post-command economy research and application Although the book’s chapters cover a variety of topics and use different research approaches and methodologies, they have a common theme--there is a great interest in, and an equally great need to scientifically investigate, rapidly emerging market opportunities, marketing-environment issues, and marketing-strategy problems with respect to transitional economies of Central and Eastern Europe.




Minerals Yearbook


Book Description

The region of Europe and Central Eurasia defined in this volume encompasses territory that extends from the Atlantic Coast of Europe to the Pacific Coast of the Russian Federation. It includes the British Isles, Iceland, and Greenland (a self- governing part of the Kingdom of Denmark). Included are mineral commodity outlook tables, plus global overview research for particularly commodities within a specific regions/countries are presented throughout the text. Manufacturers of these metals and commodities, along with trade brokers that may specialize in imports and exports, political scientists, and economists may also be interested in this volume. Students pursuing research on specific metals and mineral commodities for world economy courses may be interested in this volume.