A comprehensive index for a sustainable society: The SSI -- the Sustainable Society Index

Geurt Van de Kerk and Arthur R. Manuel

Ecological Economics, 2008, vol. 66, issue 2-3, 228-242

Abstract: In search of an adequate set of indicators to measure the level of sustainability of a country, the main existing indexes have been examined. However, the conclusion must be that none of them seem to fit our needs completely. The main shortcomings are a limited definition of sustainability, a lack of transparency and an absence of regular updates. For this reason, a new index -- the Sustainable Society Index (SSI) -- has been developed. The SSI integrates the most important aspects of sustainability and quality of life of a national society in a simple and transparent way. Consisting of only 22 indicators, grouped into 5 categories, it is based upon the definition of the Brundtland Commission, extended to the Brundtland+ definition by explicitly including the social aspects of human life. Using data from scientific institutes and international organizations, the SSI has been developed for 150 countries for which the SSI could be calculated. The resulting SSI scores allow a quick comparison between countries and -- as two-yearly updates become available -- show developments over time. The underlying data allow in-depth analysis of the aspects that cause the differences between countries. This article outlines the development of the SSI and the calculation methodology as well as giving the main results. It also summarizes the need for further research and development of the SSI.

Date: 2008
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