Going 'beyond GDP' and the problem of construct validity in well-being science: what are we really measuring?

Luciano Espósito Sewaybricker and Gustavo Martineli Massola

International Journal of Happiness and Development, 2026, vol. 10, issue 3, 258-278

Abstract: The global movement to transcend gross domestic product (GDP) as a sole indicator increasingly positions happiness and well-being as crucial alternative measures of progress; however, this shift introduces significant conceptual and methodological challenges, particularly regarding construct validity. This paper critically examines the historical interplay between wellbeing science and government policies, arguing that the strong emphasis on large-scale measurement, often driven by economic perspectives, frequently overlooks theoretical depth and the inherent complexities of happiness and well-being. Using the example of the Guarani Mbyá people, we illustrate how normative assumptions embedded in dominant measurement instruments marginalise diverse worldviews and epistemologies, contributing to epistemic and affective injustices. To foster a more equitable and robust understanding of well-being for sustainable development, we advocate for greater stakeholder involvement in defining constructs and shaping measurement tools, offering a pathway to reconcile theoretical rigour with the pragmatic demands of policy-relevant assessments.

Keywords: beyond GDP; GDP; gross domestic product; construct validity; well-being science; measurement; wellbeing; happiness; public policy; epistemic injustice. (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2026
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:ids:ijhdev:v:10:y:2026:i:3:p:258-278

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