Date: 2024-04-29 Page is: DBtxt003.php txt00017856 | |||||||||
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Burgess COMMENTARY Peter Burgess | |||||||||
| đ Growth or †Well-being Sideshift info@sideshift.net via gmail.mcsv.net 8:27 AM (20 minutes ago) to me Sideshift update, December 6, 2019. View online Hi Peter, This Tuesday I read an article about Iceland being, after New Zealand, the next country to call for a stronger focus on well-being, in addition to more traditional economic indicators like GDP. Earlier in November Nobel laureate Joseph Stiglitz questioned, if in times of major existential crises, GDP was still a valid measure of progress. Currently economies use GDP, the market value of all goods and services produced within a country, as the main figure to measure (economic) development. And economists decided there is only one direction: up. These two paradigms defined almost all our priorities for 70 years: from politics to business planning to personal development. But there are some fundamental problems. GDP measures only goods and services provided by âthe marketâ. It doesnât consider public goods, human relationships and interaction, personal experiences or other âthingsâ that donât have a price tag. All of them contributing to our well-being in various ways. If you grow your own food, teach your children life skills or nurse your relatives at home... itâs not in the GDP. If economic output grows overall but the gap between rich and poor widens⊠GDP still goes up. We justify ever increasing mass-consumption with economic growth⊠guess what, GDP grows but what are the results? Climate change, inequality, extremism⊠They are all connected to how we measure âprogressâ. But what does this mean for all of us? Can we influence how countries define development? Letâs not start by trying to change the system. Change always starts with ourselves. What are our own values? How can we improve well-being for our life and in business? Itâs not about minimalism. Itâs not about killing capitalism. Itâs about finding out what is most important in our lives. What really matters and works. In January, Sideshift will launch the first social collaboration platform. Bringing together the stories and solutions of individuals, communities and organisations from around the world. Focusing on well-being, success and sustainability. Building a community of change-makers to facilitate positive social and environmental change. Locally and globally. If you receive our newsletter, you will get the latest updates on how to join and become a member in the new year. Stay tuned. Meanwhile, help us spread the word: Tell your friends, colleagues and loved ones to visit www.sideshift.net and also pre-register for free. Get in touch if you would like to work with us or share your own story. See you again soon! PS: For all of you who took part in the Sideshift Summit in September/October⊠or if youâd like to have your say and help shape our direction⊠Last chance to take part in our survey at sideshift.net/survey. Open till 12 December. So many thanks for all your great feedback and contribution so far!!!!! Sideshifting together for a better world, RenĂ© Schneider, Co-Founder and CEO & the Sideshift Team | |||||||||