Comments on the "SSF Report" from the perspective of economic statistics

Abstract

Sustainable development measurement is an important exploration field in socio-economic statistics, which has been attached great importance by society for 30 years. In 2010, the Commission on the Measurement of Economic Performance and Social Progress (CMEPSP), headed by J.E. Stiglitz, A. Sen and J.P. Fitoussi, published a report entitled "Mis-measuring Our Lives: Why GDP Doesn't Add Up" ("SSF Report" for short). It systematically reviews and summarizes methods of economic measurement, of which classical GDP issues, well-being measurement and sustainable development measurement constitute the three main contents. Society is advancing and we cannot follow the existing measurement methods without carefully re-examination. This paper analyzes several measurement dilemmas hidden in GDP statistics, explores the feasibility and necessity of the well-being measurement, queries the sustainability of sustainable development measurement.