Measuring progress and human well being

The GDP is by far the most common measure of economic well-being, and there are many good reasons for this. But as we have discussed this year, it also has a number of shortcomings. An article in this week's New York Times Sunday Magazine examines some of these criticisms (excerpt: “The main barrier to getting progress has been that statistical agencies around the world are run by economists and statisticians...”) and discusses a few interesting alternatives, including a new database on 'The State of the USA' coming online soon.