Gross domestic product, as an indicator of the comparative power of major countries

Jacques Fontanel ()
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Jacques Fontanel: CESICE - Centre d'études sur la sécurité internationale et les coopérations européennes - IEPG - Sciences Po Grenoble - Institut d'études politiques de Grenoble - UGA [2016-2019] - Université Grenoble Alpes [2016-2019]

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Abstract: GDP is often used to compare the power of states. Firstly, GDP is not a concept that aggregates all the power of a country, especially since its construction is no longer adapted to the new demands of an overexploited and polluted land. Secondly, chronological and international estimates lead to inaccurate interpretations of the strength of states. If China has a GDP equivalent to that of the United States, except for the population, it is far behind all other criteria (well being, technology, science, education, military strength, power of the national currency, in particular) compared not only with the United States, but also to Europe. We need to restore the content of GDP to today's economic and environmental conditions and to define new complementary concepts that take into account national security, social cohesion, education, health, the maintenance of biodiversity and the ability to innovate.

Keywords: well-being; environment; State power; leadership; international comparisons (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019-08
Note: View the original document on HAL open archive server: https://hal.univ-grenoble-alpes.fr/hal-02265576v1
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