Global Network Webinar: Beyond GDP Stakes, Challenges, and Statistical Contributions

For this Global Network Webinar on “Beyond GDP - Stakes, Challenges, and Statistical Contributions”, we welcomed Stefan Schweinfest and Amr Nour from the UN Statistics Division (UNSD) to discuss the developments around measuring progress beyond Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
The webinar gave valuable insights into the policy and political momentum behind this agenda, including the latest relevant action from the Summit of the Future. Amr Nour highlighted the key stakes and challenges, emphasizing the need to move beyond GDP's blind spots in capturing human well-being, environmental sustainability, and inequality.
The speakers elaborated on the potential contributions from statistical frameworks, accounts, and work streams across the economic, environmental, and social/demographic domains. Examples included the updated System of National Accounts, the System of Environmental-Economic Accounting, and initiatives like the Statistical Framework for Measuring Sustainable Tourism and Bhutan's Gross National Happiness Index.
The Q&A session reflected the statistical community's interest in finding the right balance between conceptual breadth and practical simplicity in developing a new dashboard of progress indicators. Participants emphasized the need for broad stakeholder engagement, user-driven priorities, and building on existing initiatives to ensure country ownership and global comparability.
For more information about the Global Network of Data Officers and Statisticians please visit our info pages: unstats.un.org...