Is GDP growth a good indicator of improving quality of life?

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Cultural Debates

19 Contributors
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Yes
37% of users

  • I do believe that growth in GDP is a good indicator of improving quality of life for a large number of people, because it is a measure of productivity.

    Growth of the country's GDP is an excellent indicator of an improving quality of life, simply because it is a measure of the amount of work being done, and the productivity going into and resulting from that work. The higher the GDP, the better the economy and, therefore, the better the quality of life.

    Yes BrownDustin82

  • I agree, to an extent, that GDP growth can indicate an economic upturn and, thus, improved quality of life eventually.

    GDP is but one factor in an extremely complex world economy. However in general, even reductionist, terms, GDP growth can indicate a strengthening economy, more jobs and therefore more income for individuals. This does not necessarily improve quality of life, at least not right away. A better job (or any job) is a good thing, but if an individual is thoroughly in debt, that improved quality of life might take some time to achieve.

    Yes NimbleGreg

  • Yes, the GDP is a good indicator for an increasing quality of life, because it is the method by which a nation's economic health is measured.

    The GDP measures the gross domestic product of a nation, which is the market value of all final goods and services that is produced during a given time. Because the production of goods and services indicates that people are working, earning money, and making a living, an increasing GDP shows an increased economic activity, meaning more funds for social programs, and more income that people have to increase their own standard of living.

    Yes R4yAnych

  • GDP growth is a good measure of improving quality of life because the higher the GDP, the more well off a country is.

    GDP growth or increase in Real GDP (GDP after adjusting for inflation) per capita is a good indicator of improving quality of life. If you compare countries by GDP per capita, the GDP per capita of well off countries is almost always higher; therefore, GDP growth is a positive aspect.

    Yes FeIBuddy

  • I agree that GDP is a good indicator of improving quality of life.

    Because GDP shows the value of all the goods and services an economy produces and delivers, this figure is very representative to show how bad or well is the quality of life in a country. Countries with small GDPs have very low quality of life standards, meanwhile, countries with high GDPs have high quality standards of life. Of course GDP is not the only thing that affects the quality of life. Access to affordable medical services and education and a reliable retirement system are also very important to measure the quality of life in a country or region.

    Yes l0olllooi

  • The quality of life improves with increased GDP because there are more resources to go around.

    When GDP increases, it is a good indicator that a country is becoming somewhat more prosperous overall. There is always a trickle down effect of some sort, and thus even the lowest man on the totem pole will see some improvement in their situation. While the percentage increase in GDP may not correlate proportionately with the increase in the quality of life for all, if signifies at least a minor improvement for all.

    Yes T3ddDemon

  • GDP is a good indicator because it highlights America ability to consume.

    The gross domestic product or GDP shows off the ability of the American public to consume goods, which directly correlates with the income of the American people. If the American people are poor and can not consume goods the this will lower the GDP and give an excellent example of the current affairs of America. Government spending, investments, and net export play a factor in GDP, but consumer spending is the most critical in my opinion.

    Yes EIvynDance
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No
63% of users

  • I don't think GDP is fairly representative of Americans' quality of life, because there is no real data to back that up.

    If there were real and accurate data charts out there that reflected quality of life as an indicator of GDP growth, then I would believe it. Yet, I am skeptical, just because I fall into the group of Americans living paycheck to paycheck, not because I want to, but because the cost of living doesn't match what we get paid. Sure, there are a lot of great things out there, but I think only the top percent of people in America get to enjoy them.

    No PointlessElbert47

  • GDP growth is not a good indicator of improving quality of life because it does not measure the big picture.

    The quality of life in the United States depends on many different variables and GDP is only a small portion of this. GDP growth does help, however, the quality of life will not start improving until we can significantly lower the unemployment rate and get salaries back in check with the rate of inflation.

    No eyeslikethat

  • No it is not

    If the GDP goes up for health this reflects more sick amd/or dying people. Healthcare is an Orwellian word, meaning that it is not health which this system is caring for, it is sick and dying people this system is supposed to be caring for. Of course the poor countries have a lower GDP, they have a lower income (so they cannot afford the expenses) and usually a poorer healthcare system. When a richer country has a high healthcare GDP, it means even more people whom are better off need to be treated. Imagine what then the poor of the country's health may be like.

    No Anonymous

  • No, because the GDP is only one factor that indicates the quality of life.

    GDP is a measure of the overall economic output of a country, but many other factors go into quality of life, other than raw economic output. If a country has a strong economy, but wealth is distributed unevenly, the quality of life of the average person will suffer. A number of other factors will influence quality of life as well: access to health care, vacation or leisure time, and a healthy environment, are all examples. The U.S. has a good GDP, but many of its people nevertheless suffer from lack of affordable health care, and jobs where they're expected to work long hours with little time off.

    No PreciousMiguel78

  • The GDP is not an indicator of the quality of life, because the numbers from the past decade do not support this.

    The GDP is not an indicator of the quality of life. For the past decade, the U.S. GDP has steadily increased, while the quality of life has decreased. In China, the same is true. The industrialization of China has increased the GDP, but the quality of life for the average Chinese citizen has decreased.

    No jackprague94

  • GDP is important, but it does not, in itself, reveal anything about the dispersion of wealth, let alone a qualitative sense of the median lifestyle.

    Gross domestic product speaks to the productivity of the economy, and the nation's overall wealth. But it says nothing about how that wealth is distributed. In the U.S. during the last 30 years, for instance, you would never know from robust GDP numbers that average wages have stagnated as costs for education, housing (until recently), and health care have skyrocketed. All of this while CEO and other top-tier compensation has exploded. The median worker, even prior to the Great Recession of 2008, was struggling to achieve financial security. Like the main unemployment statistic, which fails to measure under-employment and the dilemma of those who have stopped even looking for work, GDP is an important number. But it is still an incomplete guide to the prevailing economic struggles of most people under the current version of neo-liberal economic policy that organizes the U.S. economy and that of many other countries.

    No M4I4cFeIine

  • High employment and salaries that pay a living wage improve the quality of life, not a good GDP number.

    A good GDP number does not mean that the quality of life is improving. It is a good indicator that the economy is growing and productivity is increasing, but you can have growth and increasing productivity through automation and other means that do not increase employment or salaries. A job and an adequate salary are what improve the quality of a person's life.

    No l0lliep0ps

  • Quality of life is very subjective and doesn't necessarily go along with the GDP.

    Many third world countries have experienced growth in GDP because of an increase in manufacturing jobs. However, a lot of the people working there work for low pay in miserable conditions, and can't afford to quit. In a case like that, the quality of life for the employees has gone down even though the GDP of the country has gone up. GDP growth can indicate improved quality of life, but not in every situation.

    No N Schroeder 60

  • I disagree that GDP growth is a good indicator of improving quality of life. GDP growth does is not necessarily positively correlated with other, non-material factors such happiness

    You are missing a argument body.

    No 5hinyRiah

  • GDP is not good indicator to measure the quality of life, there are many other statistical methods to do it more accurately.

    What is the meaning of GDP(gross domestic product)? "The measure of an economy adopted by the United States in 1991; the total market values of goods and services produced by workers and capital within a nation's borders during a given period (usually 1 year)" Which word describes the quality of life??? No, there are huge difference between economical measurements and human pleasure measurements.

    No StargalCec

  • GDP growth by itself is not a good enough indicator of improving quality of life because there are many other factors that influence quality of life.

    GDP growth in itself is not enough to indicate quality of life. GDP growth includes the richest as well as the poorest of people. While the rich may be getting richer, the poor may be getting poorer and GDP maybe showing a growth. The statistics could be wrong in this way. Also, GDP does not take into account the happiness index.

    No TigerDeII

  • GDP growth as a good indicator of improving quality of life has become out dated.

    No,I disagree that the GDP is a good indicator of improving quality of life. GDP is defined as the market value of goods and services produced within the borders of the country. GDP can't be a good indicator of quality of life as it actually doesn't include the quality of goods and services consumed by the population. I think GDP as a indicator of quality of human life is too narrow to be accurate.

    No I0rFashion
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