Amplifying beyond-GDP indicator initiatives: a comparative analysis of eight national case studies

[en] amid growing dissatisfaction with gross domestic product (GDP) as a measure ofprogress, national beyond-GDP indicator initiatives (BGDP iis) have proliferated. theseinitiatives seek to reorient policies by providing more holistic metrics for progress,grounded in principles of sustainability, equity, and quality of life. While considerablework has been done on their conceptual design and methodological robustness, farless is known about how these initiatives broaden and deepen their reach. this studyaddresses this gap by examining the processes through which such initiatives amplify(i.e., scale and embed through pathways that increase impact potential). Drawing on acomparative qualitative analysis of eight prominent national cases, we employ theconcept of amplification to identify pathways through which initiatives scale within,out, and beyond their original scope. these pathways include legal mandates,institutional integration, and collaborative governance processes, which either enable orhinder the amplification of BGDP iis. importantly, the analysis frames indicator initiativesnot as passive metrics but as active tools of transformation. the findings underscoreboth the transformative potential and the structural limitations of existing BGDP iis,offering new insights into their role in advancing post-growth governance and reshapingconceptions of societal progress.

Disciplines :

Business & economic sciences: Multidisciplinary, general & others

Author, co-author :

Dethier, Fanny ; Université de Liège - ULiège > HEC Liège : UER > UER Management : Marketing ; ICHEC Brussels Management School, Boulevard Brand

Roman, Philippe; ICHEC Brussels Management School, Boulevard Brand

Language :

English

Title :

Amplifying beyond-GDP indicator initiatives: a comparative analysis of eight national case studies

Publication date :

04 March 2026

Journal title :

Sustainability: Science, Practice, and Policy

ISSN :

1548-7733

Publisher :

Informa UK Limited

Volume :

Issue :

Peer reviewed :

Peer reviewed

Development Goals :

17. Partnerships for the goals
16. Peace, justice and strong institutions

Additional URL :

https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/15487733.2026.2630449

Funders :

EU - European Union

Funding text :

This work was supported by the European Union’s Horizon Europe Research and Innovation Programme under grant agreement number 101094211 (ToBe project: “Towards a Sustainable Wellbeing Economy: Integrated Policies and Transformative Indicators”).

Available on ORBi :

since 10 March 2026

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