1. Beyond GDP: From Measurement to Politics and Policy An introduction to BRAINPOoL Paris 24 March 2014

2. BRAINPOoL is an EU funded project BRAINPOoL is an FP7 funded project aimed at identifying and overcoming the barriers to alternative indicators being used in policy. During the project we have: carried out research and interviews, conducted seven action research case studies to explore ways to improve uptake of Beyond GDP indicators, and organised a knowledge-brokerage event to jointly explore ways to overcome the barriers 3. 1. Objectives 2. What is the problem? 3. Findings 4. Recommendations 4. What will it take to get Beyond GDP indicators used? Maximising GDP and market efficiency no longer do the job we need good growth not just growth New indicators that reduce the prominence of GDP are part of the answer hence the Stiglitz Commission But what else is needed to achieve change? That is, what will it take to get new indicators of this kind used in policy making? BRAINPOoL set up to stimulate interactions between indicator developers and users to start to answer this question 5. 1. Objectives 2. What is the problem? 3. Findings 4. Recommendations 6. We found the problem needed clearer definition The issue is not how do we get social and environmental indicators used in social and environmental policy making 7. We found the problem needed clearer definition The issue is not how do we get social and environmental indicators used in social and environmental policy making This happens now:- Economic Policy Intervention GDP Wellbeing as seen by economics depts. Other Policy Intervention Social / environmental indicators Wellbeing as understood by other policy depts. 8. The challenge is integrated policy - including economic policy Beyond GDP indicators used alongside GDP to assess policy as a whole, including economic policy These may be indicators of intermediate objectives (drivers) or indicators of end goals - wellbeing 9. The challenge is integrated policy - including economic policy Beyond GDP indicators used alongside GDP to assess policy as a whole, including economic policy These may be indicators of intermediate objectives (drivers) or indicators of end goals - wellbeing Policy Intervention GDP Indicators of Wellbeing now and future Beyond GDP indicators - drivers 10. allowing policy makers to target good quality growth Policy Intervention GDP Wellbeing indicators Beyond GDP driver indicators 11. not bad quality growth Policy Intervention GDP Wellbeing indicators Beyond GDP driver indicators 12. 1. Objectives 2. What is the problem? 3. Findings 4. Recommendations 13. We found 7 main barriers in 3 groups Political barriers Lack of democratic legitimacy of Beyond GDP objectives Lack of appealing narrative Lack of a clear political imperative for change Indicator barriers Technical questions with indicators Process and structural barriers No clear process for integrated, innovative economic policy making Institutional resistance to change A failure to connect with policy by some indicator promoters These barriers give rise to more superficial constraints: lack of resources, timely data, ignorance or confusion, and some badly designed indicators 14. 1. Objectives 2. What is the problem? 3. Findings 4. Recommendations 15. Our recommendations loosely map onto the barriers 1. Develop processes to engage citizens and establish democratic legitimacy (political parties, NGOs, officials) 2. Develop a Beyond GDP narrative, illustrated with policies where use of Beyond GDP indicators make a difference (political parties. NGOs, OECD) 3. Continue technical, theoretical and harmonisation work (academics, official statisticians, OECD, international agencies) 4. Improve processes for integrated and innovative policy making (officials, political parties) 5. Develop strategies for overcoming institutional resistance (political parties, NGOs) 6. Strengthen the role of indicator entrepreneurs (official and unofficial statisticians) 16. and we are focussing on two at this conference 1. Develop processes to engage citizens and establish democratic legitimacy (political parties, NGOs, officials) 2. Develop a Beyond GDP narrative, illustrated with policies where use of Beyond GDP indicators make a difference (political parties. NGOs, OECD) 3. Continue technical, theoretical and harmonisation work (academics, official statisticians, OECD, international agencies) 4. Improve processes for integrated and innovative policy making (officials, political parties) 5. Develop strategies for overcoming institutional resistance (political parties, NGOs) 6. Strengthen the role of indicator entrepreneurs (official and unofficial statisticians)