How can we measure well-being and value ecosystems? A lecture by Walter Radermacher, Director General of Eurostat, today explores new approaches to produce information for policies on sustainable development.

Sustainable development is by definition a cross-border/inter-generational concept. This lecture starts from the viewpoint that societies (as part of a globalised interaction or political community) have to find their way towards sustainability. As this is a major change affecting the sphere of production as well as the behaviour of consumers, it is a kind of manoeuvre involving iterative phases and steps, with learning systems and evolutionary procedures as typical features. Where all these manoeuvres will lead to, is unpredictable (e.g. the climate change debate). Nevertheless, it is possible to prepare the next political choice/decision in the best way possible and with the best information available. And it should also be ensured that decision making itself is rooted in democratic culture and respects the basic rules of communication to and participation of citizens.

 Toward this goal it makes sense to rethink what we choose to measure and compare over time. Indicators such as GDP that are rooted in economic growth as main goal need to be complemented with indicators attempting to reflect sustainable production, consumption, and other measures of ‘improving quality of life’. We will discuss the status quo of the corresponding debate by Stiglitz, Sen et al. GDP & Beyond, and the European Commission’s ‘Europe 2020’ paper. What are the concepts, where are we right now in terms of conceptual development and realisation?

This lecture is part of the lecture series "Science and citizens meet challenges of sustainability"

When? Today, 29 April, 4.30 - 6 pm

Where? Campus Limpertsberg, BS 3.03 lecture hall