A Post-GDP Critique of the Europe 2020 Strategy

2012 is the year the European Commission will conduct an assessment of its roadmap on “GDP and beyond: Measuring progress in a changing world”. The paper gives an overview of the limits to GDP and the relevance to measuring social capital and sustainability. The arguments and evaluations on limits to growth made by Joseph Stiglitz, Tim Jackson, Amaryta Sen and other academics are employed. This report examines the overarching EU strategy to replace the Lisbon Strategy, the Europe 2020 Strategy, with Beyond GDP arguments. Then the room for the Europe 2020 Strategy to promote wellbeing and sustainability is evaluated. The report assesses the approach to promoting growth and jobs; poverty reduction; sustainability; and education in the EU strategy. In conclusion, the report will look at what efforts are being made at the EU level to promote statistical capabilities and political momentum to go beyond GDP.