Beyond GDP: Rethinking Progress in the Age of Interdependence
Lord Meghnad Desai
Emeritus Professor of Economics, London School of Economics
The ABLF Talks | The ABLF City | March 9, 2021
Speaker Introduction:
Lord Meghnad Desai – Architect of Human-Centered Economics
Lord Meghnad Desai is a globally respected economist, public intellectual, and member of the British House of Lords. As Emeritus Professor of Economics at the London School of Economics, he has made enduring contributions to global development policy, economic theory, and political discourse. He played a formative role in conceptualising the United Nations Human Development Index (HDI), which redefined the way nations assess progress by focusing on education, health, and equity. At the ABLF Talks Live, Lord Desai presented a compelling case for transcending GDP-centric models in favour of metrics that reflect the quality of life, resilience, and dignity of people, particularly in a post-pandemic world that demands new moral and political commitments.
Moderator: Eithne Treanor, Founder and CEO, E Treanor Media
Date: March 9, 2021
Prepared by: The ABLF Research Council
Event: The ABLF Talks, hosted virtually at the ABLF City
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Executive Summary
At a time when the world is grappling with overlapping crises, from public health emergencies to social inequality, Lord Meghnad Desai called for a transformative shift in how nations define progress. In his keynote address at the ABLF Talks Live, he urged the global community to move beyond GDP as the dominant indicator of development. Instead, he advocated for a more inclusive, human-centered approach anchored in well-being, opportunity, and dignity. The COVID-19 pandemic, he argued, has exposed the fragility of systems designed for growth rather than equity. This white paper distils his insights into a new development vision, one that prioritises solidarity, social investment, and the moral imperatives of our interdependent age.
Sign in to unlock the library of the ABLF Insightfolio
The ABLF Insightfolio features researched, knowledge-led whitepapers that capture the strategic perspectives and insights of Asia’s foremost thinkers, policymakers, business leaders and social scientists.
Derived from the impact-led dialogues at the ABLF Talks, these policy-shaping documents are designed to inform, inspire, and ignite action across all sectors, from inclusive growth and sustainability to innovation and digital transformation.
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