The critical ideas behind ANDI€¦ · The critical ideas behind ANDI In this brochure, we set out...
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The critical ideas behind ANDI In this brochure, we set out some of the basic arguments and most important ideas behind the ANDI project, and many others like it – projects seeking to develop a fairer, more sustainable and more democratic model of societal progress and better ways to measure it. These ideas belong not just in the 21 st century or in the realm of statistics, nor do they apply to Australia alone, but are part of a much older and wider debate about human progress. Here, we have used the words of many writers, thinkers and researchers, and the findings of reports in this field, to support the arguments and flesh out the ideas. We encourage readers to use this as a basic source document. 1. Progress is a powerful and influential political idea … No single idea has been more important than the Idea of Progress in Western civilization for three thousand years. (Nisbet, R. History of the Idea of Progress, 1980) Since the Industrial Revolution, the idea of ‘progress’ or ‘development’ has occupied a central position in Western society, conferring legitimacy on political power and providing a positive unifying theme for national policy. And it is potent not least because it conveys a sense of destiny: it has become the ‘meta narrative of history and human evolution’ that ‘occupies the centre of an incredibly powerful semantic constellation. There is nothing in modern mentality comparable to it as a force guiding thought and behaviour ... It converted history into a programme: a necessary and inevitable destiny...’ (Salvaris, M. 1998, ‘Citizenship and Progress’ in Eckersley, R. (ed) Measuring progress: Is life getting better?’, Collingwood, Victoria: CSIRO Publishing, p 38, with quotations from Esteva 1992 and McLintock, 1992) and the statistical indicators which define and measure progress are therefore also very influential … The most powerful instrument of political authority is the power to give names and to enforce definitions. (Thomas Hobbes) “When I use a word” said Humpty Dumpty, “ it means just what I choose it to mean - neither more nor less.” “The question is”, said Alice, “whether you can make words mean so many different things.” “The question is”, said Humpty Dumpty, “which is to be master - that’s all”. (Lewis Carroll, Through the Looking Glass)
Transcript of The critical ideas behind ANDI€¦ · The critical ideas behind ANDI In this brochure, we set out...
ThecriticalideasbehindANDIInthisbrochure,wesetoutsomeofthebasicargumentsandmostimportantideasbehindtheANDIproject,andmanyotherslikeit–projectsseekingtodevelopafairer,moresustainableandmoredemocraticmodelofsocietalprogressandbetterwaystomeasureit.Theseideasbelongnotjustinthe21stcenturyorintherealmofstatistics,nordotheyapplytoAustraliaalone,butarepartofamucholderandwiderdebateabouthumanprogress.Here,wehaveusedthewordsofmanywriters,thinkersandresearchers,andthefindingsofreportsinthisfield,tosupporttheargumentsandfleshouttheideas.Weencouragereaderstousethisasabasicsourcedocument.
1.Progressisapowerfulandinfluentialpoliticalidea…NosingleideahasbeenmoreimportantthantheIdeaofProgressinWesterncivilizationforthreethousandyears.(Nisbet,R.HistoryoftheIdeaofProgress,1980)
SincetheIndustrialRevolution,theideaof‘progress’or‘development’hasoccupiedacentralpositioninWesternsociety,conferringlegitimacyonpoliticalpowerandprovidingapositiveunifyingthemefornationalpolicy.Anditispotentnotleastbecauseitconveysasenseofdestiny:ithasbecomethe‘metanarrativeofhistoryandhumanevolution’that‘occupiesthecentreofanincrediblypowerfulsemanticconstellation.Thereisnothinginmodernmentalitycomparabletoitasaforceguidingthoughtandbehaviour...Itconvertedhistoryintoaprogramme:anecessaryandinevitabledestiny...’(Salvaris,M.1998,‘CitizenshipandProgress’inEckersley,R.(ed)Measuringprogress:Islifegettingbetter?’,Collingwood,Victoria:CSIROPublishing,p38,withquotationsfromEsteva1992andMcLintock,1992)
andthestatisticalindicatorswhichdefineandmeasureprogressarethereforealsoveryinfluential…
Themostpowerfulinstrumentofpoliticalauthorityisthepowertogivenamesandtoenforcedefinitions.(ThomasHobbes)
“WhenIuseaword”saidHumptyDumpty,“itmeansjustwhatIchooseittomean-neithermorenorless.”“Thequestionis”,saidAlice,“whetheryoucanmakewordsmeansomanydifferentthings.”“Thequestionis”,saidHumptyDumpty,“whichistobemaster-that’sall”.(LewisCarroll,ThroughtheLookingGlass)
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StatisticalindicatorsarethestructuralDNAcodesofnations.Theyreflectasociety’svaluesandgoalsandbecomethekeydriversofeconomicandtechnologicalchoices.(HazelHenderson)
whichmeanstheyareoftenusedtoserveparticularpoliticalinterests…
‘Just’or‘right’meansnothingbutwhatisintheinterestofthestrongerparty.(ThrasymachusinPlato’sRepublic)
Igather,youngman,thatyouwishtobeaMemberofParliament.Thefirstlessonthatyoumustlearnis,whenIcallforstatisticsabouttherateofinfantmortality,whatIwantisproofthatfewerbabiesdiedwhenIwasPrimeMinisterthanwhenanyoneelsewasPrimeMinister.Thatisapoliticalstatistic.(WinstonChurchill)“Howsad.Allgovernmentsfindittemptingtotweakthenumberstheyarejudgedby.Butindoingthistheydeprivethemselvesofthebestguidetofuturepolicymaking.Andtheyalsocreateaself-defeatingspiralofdistrustinwhicheventhenumberstheyhavenottweakedaredisbelieved.”(“TheEconomist,“TheImportanceofstatistics–Lies,damnedlies”.March1st2007,p.18.Socialmeasurement,bothofficialandunofficial,inevitablyembodiesthevaluesofthegroupdoingthemeasurement.Ifonlypoliticallymarginalisedgroupsvoiceobjectionstothecategoriesbeingused,theindicatorscaneasilyappeartobeneutralandnon-ideological.Thatiswhytheideologicalcharacterofofficialstatisticsbecomeshardertodetectasweapproachthepresent.Ourownideologyisusuallyinvisibletous.(Cobb,C.2000.‘MeasurementToolsandtheQualityofLife’.SanFrancisco:RedefiningProgress:p.20.
buttheirultimatelegitimacyinawellgovernedstateshouldbeasameanstoimprovepeople’slives.
Socialindicators…enableustoassesswherewestandandaregoingwithrespecttoourvaluesandgoals.(RaymondBauer,1966)
Statisticsarepeoplewiththeirtearswashedaway.(VictorSidel,USphysician,quotedinLevy,BarryS.,2006,‘HealthconsequencesofthewarinIraq’presentedatAFL-CIOheadquarters,Washington,February23.)
Statisticalindicatorsareimportantfordesigningandassessingpoliciesaimingatadvancingtheprogressofsociety,aswellasforassessingandinfluencingthefunctioningofeconomicmarkets.Theirrolehasincreasedsignificantlyoverthelasttwodecades.Thisreflectsimprovementsinthelevelofeducationinthepopulation,increasesinthecomplexityofmoderneconomiesandthewidespreaduseofinformationtechnology.Inthe“informationsociety”,accesstodata,includingstatisticaldata,ismucheasier.Moreandmorepeoplelookatstatisticstobebetterinformedortomakedecisions.(Stiglitz,J.,A.SenandFJ-PFitoussi.2009.CommissionontheMeasurementofEconomicPerformanceandSocialProgress,FinalReport,Parisp.7)
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2.GDPiscurrentlyourmostpoliticallypowerfulprogressindicator,butitisapoormeasureofthetrueprogressofsocieties.
Wealthisevidentlynotthegoodweareseeking,foritismerelyusefulandforthesakeofsomethingelse.(Aristotle,384–322BC)
Theoverwhelmingmajorityofourpeopleseekagreateropportunityforhumanitytoprosperandfindhappiness.Theyrecognisethathumanwelfarehasnotincreasedanddoesnotincreasethroughmerematerialismandluxury,butthatitdoesprogressthroughintegrity,unselfishness,responsibilityandjustice.(FranklinD.Roosevelt,StateoftheUnionAddress,1934)Toomuchandtoolong,weseemtohavesurrenderedcommunityexcellenceandcommunityvaluesinthemereaccumulationofmaterialthings.Ourgrossnationalproduct-ifweshouldjudgeAmericabythat-countsairpollutionandcigaretteadvertising,andambulancestoclearourhighwaysofcarnage.Itcountsspeciallocksforourdoorsandthejailsforthosewhobreakthem.Itcountsthedestructionofourredwoodsandthelossofournaturalwonderinchaoticsprawl.Itcountsnapalmandthecostofanuclearwarhead,andarmouredcarsforpolicewhofightriotsinourstreets.ItcountsWhitman'srifleandSpeck'sknife,andthetelevisionprogramswhichglorifyviolenceinordertoselltoystoourchildren.Yetthegrossnationalproductdoesnotallowforthehealthofourchildren,thequalityoftheireducation,orthejoyoftheirplay.Itdoesnotincludethebeautyofourpoetryorthestrengthofourmarriages;theintelligenceofourpublicdebateortheintegrityofourpublicofficials.Itmeasuresneitherourwitnorourcourage;neitherourwisdomnorourlearning;neitherourcompassionnorourdevotiontoourcountry;itmeasureseverything,inshort,exceptthatwhichmakeslifeworthwhile.AndittellsuseverythingaboutAmericaexceptwhyweareproudthatweareAmericans.(RobertF.Kennedy,Address,UniversityofKansas,Lawrence,Kansas,March18,1968)Ifwecontinuetouse(GDP)asameasureofprogress,wewillnotachievesustainabledevelopment.GDP,ratherthanleadingusdowntherightpath,pointsusinacompletelyrandomdirection.Itisnomeasureofprogress.Itincreaseswithpollutingactivitiesandthenagainwiththeirclean-up.Ittakesnoaccountofincomedistribution,orthedepletionordegradationofnaturalresources,andtreatscrime,divorceandotherelementsofsocialbreakdownaseconomicgains.GDPismerelyagrosstallyofproductsandservicesboughtandsold,withnodistinctionsbetweentransactionsthataddtowell-being,andthosethatdiminishit.Itisasifabusinesstriedtoassessitsfinancialconditionbysimplyaddingupall'businessactivity',lumpingtogetherincomeandexpenses,assetsandliabilities.(FriendsoftheEarth,UK,‘WhatisWrongwithGDP?’,2010,www.foe.co.uk/community/tools/isew/annex1.html)GDPcannotdistinguishbetweengrowth(anincreaseinquantity)anddevelopment(animprovementinquality.(Osberg,L.2001.‘Needsandwants:Whatissocialprogressandhowshoulditbemeasured?’,TheReviewofEconomicPerformanceandSocialProgress,pp.23-41)
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Asocietythatenablesitscitizenstoaspiretogreatness,todevelopvirtuesandloyalties,tobecomeskilledandartistic,andtoattainwisdomisfarbetterthanasocietythatmerelyprovidesthemeanstosatisfydesire.(Trewinetal,2009,MeasuringtheProgressofSocieties,OECD,Paris,p39)ThereisagrowingsensethattraditionalmeasuresofeconomicperformancesuchasGDP,employmentandincomedatadonotcapturethefullstoryofwhatishappeninginsociety.Thishasprovokedadesiretomonitorthestateofsocialandeconomicwell-beingofsociety.(CanadianPolicyResearchNetworks)Progressmeasuredbyasinglemeasuringrod,theGNP,hascontributedsignificantlytoexacerbatetheinequalitiesofincomedistribution.(RobertMcNamara,PresidentoftheWorldBank,1973)TheGovernmentneedstobringitseconomicstatisticsuptodate.For50yearsthisefforthasbeengearedlargelytotheneedsoftheGDPandrelatedmeasures.Asaresult,thecountryknowsdistressinglylittleabouthowtheeconomyactuallyaffectsthehealthandwellbeingofindividuals,familiesandcommunities...Betteraccountingmightnotguaranteebetterpolicy;butit'sdoubtfulwe'llhavebetterpolicywithoutit.(CliffordCobb,TedHalsteadandJonathanRowe,authorsoftheGenuineProgressIndicator,1995)...tryingtorunacomplexsocietyonasingleindicatorlikeGrossNationalProductisliterallyliketryingtoflya747withonlyonegaugeontheinstrumentpanel...imagineifyourdoctor,whengivingyouacheck-up,didnomorethancheckyourbloodpressure.(HazelHenderson,economist)
3.Itistimetochangethewaywedefineandmeasureprogress:thismeans,first,shiftingthefocusfromproductiontowellbeing.
Humanadvanceisconditionedbyourconceptionofprogress...Itistimetoendthemismeasureofhumanprogressbyeconomicgrowthalone.Theparadigmshiftinfavourofsustainablehumandevelopmentisstillinthemaking.Butmoreandmorepolicymakersinmanycountriesarereachingtheunavoidableconclusionthat,tobevaluableandlegitimate,developmentprogress—bothnationallyandinternationally—mustbepeoplecentred,equitablydistributed,andenvironmentallyandsociallysustainable.(UNDP,1996,HumanDevelopmentReport)
For60yearsGrossDomesticProducthasbeenthedominantwayinwhichtheworldhasmeasuredandunderstoodprogress.Thisapproachhasfailedtoexplainmanyofthefactorsthatimpactmostonpeople’slives…TheOECDmustdevelopnewmethodstomeasuretheprogressofsocieties,integratingtheusualeconomicindicatorswithothersocialandenvironmentalmeasures,workingwithkeynon-Membereconomiesandotherinternationalorganisations.Wehavetomovetowardsmeasuringwelfarenotjustoutput.Itwillconstituteamajorcontributiontostabilityanddemocracy.(AngelGurria,OECDSecretaryGeneral,2007)
Whatwemeasureaffectswhatwedo;andifourmeasurementsareflawed,decisionsmaybedistorted.ChoicesbetweenpromotingGDPandprotectingtheenvironmentmaybefalsechoices,onceenvironmentaldegradationisappropriatelyincludedinourmeasurementofeconomicperformance.Sotoo,weoftendrawinferencesaboutwhatare
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goodpoliciesbylookingatwhatpolicieshavepromotedeconomicgrowth;butifourmetricsofperformanceareflawed,sotoomaybetheinferencesthatwedraw…Thetimeisripeforourmeasurementsystemtoshiftemphasisfrommeasuringeconomicproductiontomeasuringpeople’swell-being.Andmeasuresofwell-beingshouldbeputinacontextofsustainability…(Stiglitz,J.,A.SenandFJ-PFitoussi.2009.CommissionontheMeasurementofEconomicPerformanceandSocialProgress,FinalReport,Parispp.7,12,18)Inpreviouscenturiesnationsmeasuredtheirsuccessbymilitarypower.FormostofthiscenturytheymeasureditbytheireconomicpowerandtheirrankinginGDPtables.By2020...ourobsessionwithgrowthandGDPwillseemsasoddasthe19thcenturyfetishisationofarmiesdoestousnow.Increasingly,societieswillbejudgedbyverydifferentcriteria:byqualitynotquantity,well-beingnotincome,balancenotgrowth”.(GeoffMulgan,UKSocialExclusionUnit,1995)
4.Todayaglobalmovementtoredefineprogressisdeveloping.
Foragoodpartofthe20thcenturytherewasanimplicitassumptionthateconomicgrowthwassynonymouswithprogress.Theworldnowrecognisesthatitisn'tquiteassimpleasthat…Overthepast10yearsorsotherehasbeenanexplosionofinterestinproducingmeasuresofsocietalprogress…thatgobeyondGDPtorepresentabroaderviewofthewaysinwhichsocietiesareprogressingandregressing…Initiativestodojustthisarebeingruninmanycountriesrichandpoor…bygovernments,bycivilsociety,byacademicsandtheprivatesector…Aworldmovementisemergingandthelinkagebetweenstatisticalindicators,policydesignanddemocraticassessmentoftheperformanceofacountry(aregion,acityetc)isatitscore.(OECDStatisticsDirectorate,2008.‘GlobalProjectonMeasuringtheProgressofSocieties:StrategicActionPlan’,Paris:OECD:selectedquotations)
5.Thetaskofdevelopingnewmeasuresofsocietalprogresshascertainlogicalrequirements.First,wemustfirstbeclearaboutwhatprogressmeans,andwhatourgoalsare....
Theideaofprogressmeansthatcivilisationhasmoved,ismovingandwillmoveinadesirabledirection.Butinordertojudgethatwearemovinginadesirabledirection,weshouldhavetoknowpreciselywhatthedirectionis.(J.B.Bury,1920.‘TheIdeaofProgress’.London:Macmillan,p2)
Inordertomeasurequalityoflife,onemusthaveatheoryofwhatmakesupagoodlife.(CliffordCobb)
Todevelopsocialindicatorsthatcanevaluatethehealthofsociety,wearefacedwiththenecessityofspellingoutsomemoreorlessexplicitworkingmodelofsociety.(KennethLand)
Tomeasureprogress,oneneedstoknowwhatitlookslike.(OECD,2008,‘Measuringtheprogressofsocieties:whatistherelevanceforAsiaandthePacific?’,ReporttoUNEconomicandSocialCommissionforAsiaandthePacific(UNESCAP))
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andespeciallywhatkindoffuturewewanttoprogressto...
ItisfromitsbearingsonthefuturethatProgressderivesitsvalue,itsinterestanditspower.(Bury,J.1920.TheIdeaofProgress.London:Macmillan,pp6-7)Thefutureisnotaresultofchoicesamongalternativepathsofferedbythepresent,butaplacethatiscreated--createdfirstinthemindandwill,creatednextinactivity.Thefutureisnotsomeplacewearegoingto,butonewearecreating.Thepathstothefuturearenottobefound,butmade,andtheactivityofmakingthemchangesboththemakerandthedestination.(JohnSchaar,USFuturistandPoliticalPhilosopher,UniversityofCaliforniaatSantaCruz)
sothatwemeasurewhatisimportant,notjustwhatiseasilymeasured.
Noteverythingthatcountscanbecounted,andnoteverythingthatcanbecounted,counts.(AlbertEinstein)
Mandoesnotinhabitasocialvacuum;thusfailuretosetthoseaspectsofqualityoflifethatwecanmeasureinawiderframeworkwillbeafutileexercise.Todiscussonlythemeasurablecomponentswouldbeanalogoustotheoldjokeaboutthedrunklookingforhislostkeysunderalamppost,althoughhehaddroppedthemelsewhere,becausethelightwasbetterunderthelamp.(Fallowfield,L.1990.TheQualityofLife,London:Souvenir)
6.Butalso,thetaskofre-definingnationalprogresshasfundamentaldemocraticrequirements…
Measuringprogressraisesdemocraticasmuchastechnocraticissues.Democracyandprogressmeasurementarelinkedinatleastfiveimportantways:
1. Definingwhatprogressshouldbeistheproperresponsibilityofdemocraticcitizens.2. Thedevelopmentofdemocracyisitselfakeycomponentofsocialprogress.3. Healthydemocracyimprovesprogressandwellbeinginotherareas.4. Socialprogressindicatorsareatoolforbetterandmoreaccountablegovernance.5. Engagingcitizensinprogressmeasurementstrengthenstheirdemocraticcapacity.
(Salvaris,OECDKyotoConference,MeasuringProgressofSocieties,2009,adapted)Theselectionofkeyindicatorsisapoliticalprocessthatneedstobecarriedoutinademocraticway,i.e.withtheinvolvementofallcomponentsofthesociety(government,opposition,tradeunions,businessassociations,civilsociety,etc.),toprovideabroad-basedlegitimacytotheindicatorset,whichisanecessaryconditionifitistobetrustedbycitizensandrecognizedassharedknowledge.(OECD,2009,‘Measuringtheprogressofsocieties:whatistherelevanceforAsiaandthePacific’,PapertoUNECOSOC,EconomicandSocialCommissionforAsiaandthePacific)Inademocracy,socialreportinghasaveryspecialfunction;itistoinformthecitizensabouttheprevailinglivingconditionsintheirsocietyandgivethemaperspectiveonnationaldevelopmentbycomparingthiswithdevelopmentsinothercountries.Democracyassumesthatthecitizenshaveaccesstosuchknowledgeinordertobeabletochallengethegovernment,discovernewwelfareproblemsandbringalternativesolutionstoadecisionstagebymeansofpoliticalparties
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andorganisations.Accordingly,socialreportinghasaveryspecialroleinsociety'sproductionofinformation;itbelongstothedemocraticinfrastructureandhasaspecialpoliticalfunction.Putsimply,socialreportingplaceswelfareissuesonthepoliticalagenda.Itsuppliesmaterialtothepublicdebate,influencesthemedia,and,indirectly,theadministration.(JoachimVogel,1990,JournalofPublicPolicy,9,4,439-444,‘Socialindicators:aSwedishperspective’,p.441)Theavailabilityofstatisticalindicatorsofeconomic,socialandenvironmentaloutcomesandtheirdisseminationtocitizenscancontributetopromotinggoodgovernanceandtheimprovementofdemocraticprocesses.Itcanstrengthencitizens’capacitytoinfluencethegoalsofthesocietiestheyliveinthroughdebateandconsensusbuilding,andincreasetheaccountabilityofpublicpolicies.(IstanbulDeclaration,MeasuringtheProgressofSocieties,WorldForumonStatistics,KnowledgeandPolicy,Istanbul,30June2007.)
Newmeasuresofprogressshouldbepartofalargerprocessofcivicrenewal.Ascorporatismhasgrown,citizenshavegraduallymetamorphosedintocustomers.Somewherealongthispath,anddespitetheincreaseinourmaterialwell-being,moderncivilizationhaslostitsreflectivecapacity,theabilitytoasktheSocraticquestion“Whatisthewayweoughttolive?”.Itisbyaskingthisquestion,andbymakingspecificclaimsforthestandardsofadecentsocietyagainstthedominantcorporategoals,thatwecanre-assertthelostlegitimacyofademocracyofcitizens.(RalstonSaul,J.1997,TheUnconsciousCivilization,Penguin,Ringwood,Australia)
startingwiththeneedforasharedandhonestunderstandingofreality…Whenwelookatthehumancondition,itisnotforustolaughorcryorlamentorcurseorpretendthatitisdifferent.Itisforustounderstand.Thatisoursacreddutyashumanbeings.(BaruchdeSpinoza,1677)
Withoutasharedunderstandingofreality,fruitfuldemocraticdebateisalmostimpossible(OECD,‘TheOECDGlobalProjectonMeasuringSocieties’,Paris,2007)
WearenotafraidtoentrusttheAmericanpeoplewithunpleasantfacts,foreignideas,alienphilosophies,andcompetitivevalues.Foranationthatisafraidtoletitspeoplejudgethetruthandfalsehoodinanopenmarketisanationthatisafraidofitspeople.(JohnF.Kennedy)
Understandingournation’sprogresstowardswidelyacceptedgoalsisimperativeinanagewheremostofusknowfartoolittleabouttheproblemsandopportunitiesweface.Supplyingsuchinformationrequiresatrusted,non-partisansource,withscientificallycredibleandusefuldata.(DerekBok,ProfessorEmeritusofHarvardUniversity,2007)
Policymakersaremisleadbyinadequateinterpretationofbadinformationbasedonobsoleteconceptsandinadequateresearchandcollectedbyunderfedandoverlobbiedstatisticalagencies.(Gross,B.andSpringer,M.1967,‘Newgoalsforsocialinformation’inTheAnnalsoftheAmericanAcademyofPoliticalandSocialScience,373,September,209.)
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andmovingtoabroaderdebateonthemeaningandgoalsofprogress…Progressundoubtedlymeansdifferentthingstodifferentsocieties,andwewillencourageandhelpsocietiestohaveadialogueaboutwhatprogressmeanstothem.(OECD2008,above)TheCommissionbelievesthataglobaldebatearoundtheissuesandrecommendationsraisedinthisreportprovidesanimportantvenueforadiscussionofsocietalvalues,forwhatwe,asasociety,careabout,andwhetherwearereallystrivingforwhatisimportant.(Stiglitz2009,above,p18)
whichmeansthatcitizensmustbeengagedinthedebateandindevelopingthenewmeasuresofprogress…Thecitizencanbringourpoliticalandgovernmentalinstitutionsbacktolife,makethemresponsiveandaccountable,andkeepthemhonest.Nooneelsecan.(JohnGardner)
Tobelegitimate,societalindicatorsrequiretheexplicitinvolvementofcitizenstodeterminewhatmatterstothem.Thenexpertscantrytodevisethemeasuresthatcitizensneed.WhilethereismuchactivityonqualityoflifeindicatorsinCanada,thereisnoprojectthatisnationalinscope,noristhereonethatseeksinputfromcitizens.(CanadianPolicyResearchNetworks(CPRN)www.cprn.com)
Theindicatorsasocietychoosestoreporttoitselfaboutitselfaresurprisinglypowerful.Theyreflectcollectivevaluesandinformcollectivedecisions.AnationthatkeepsawatchfuleyeonitssalmonrunsorthesafetyofitsstreetsmakesdifferentchoicesthandoesanationthatisonlypayingattentiontoitsGNP.Theideaofcitizenschoosingtheirownindicatorsissomethingnewunderthesun–somethingintenselydemocratic.(SustainableSeattle)
Thedemocraticidealinlocalgovernmentimpliesthatactiveparticipationofthecitizensinlocalaffairsisbothagoalinitselfandaninstrumentforstrengtheningdemocracyinsocietyatlarge.(Kjellberg,F.1995.“TheChangingValuesofLocalGovernment”inAnnalsoftheAmericanAcademyofPoliticalandSocialScience,vol540,40)
workingwithdifferentstakeholdersacrosssocietytodevelopasharedmodelofbetter,fairerandmoresustainablesocieties…Atthenationallevel,round-tablesshouldbeestablished,withtheinvolvementofstakeholders,toidentifyandprioritisethoseindicatorsthatcarrypotentialforasharedviewofhowsocialprogressishappeningandhowitcanbesustainedovertime.(Stiglitzetal2009,p18)Wearefacingbothanopportunityandadutytorethinkwhatprogressreallymeansandtobuildstrongerandmoreinclusivevisionsforthefutureofoursocieties.Citizensarelookingfor
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newwaystoimprovetheirlives.Weneedcommittedcitizens,scientistsandwell-informedleadersreadytoengagethewholeofsocietyinanassessmentofthechallengesahead.Adequatemeasurementsareessentialinhelpingoursocietiestodefinetheirgoals;ensurethatwedesigntherightpoliciestoachievethem;andtelluswhetherthosepoliciesareworking.(AngeloGurria,SecretaryGeneral,OECD,OpeningMessage,3rdOECDWorldForumonStatistics,KnowledgeandPolicy‘ChartingProgress,BuildingVisions,ImprovingLife’,Busan,SouthKorea,27-30October2009.)Itisparticularlyimportant...toavoidthepitfallofdefiningcitizenrolestoonarrowly.Itistruethatbyviewingcitizensascustomers,governmentscanenhanceservicequality.Yet,governmentsthatviewcitizensonlyascustomerslosetremendousleverageavailablebyengagingprivateindividualsandorganizationstoactinconcertwithgovernmenttoachievecommunitygoals.Communitiescanbenefitbymakingagreaterplaceforcitizensinbuildingthe‘vision’orstrategicdirectionforacommunitybothintermsofproblemstobeminimisedaswellasaspirationstobestrivenfor,andbyextendingawiderinvitationforcitizensornongovernmentalgroupstoactaspartnerstohelpbringaboutdesiredcommunityresultsinpartnershipswhetherbyself-help,servicedeliveryorvolunteerefforts.Sucheffortsholdpromisenotonlyofbuildinglegitimacyofcommunitymeasurementandimprovementeffortsintheviewofcitizens,butofferthepromiseofproducingbetterresultsbymobilisingabroaderpoolofresourcesandcommunitysupporttogoefforts.(Epstein,P.,Wray,L.etal.2000.‘EngagingCitizensinAchievingResultsthatMatter:aModelforEffective21stCenturyGovernance’.Minneapolis,Minnesota:CitizensLeague)
…andanewwaytomeasurenationalprogress.
Ifonlythegenuinestateofthenation,thewelfareofallwholivehere,itsqualitieslikecompassion,justice,egalitarianism,toleranceandgenerosityandtheruleoflawmatteredmorethanpettypartypoliticalpointscoringandtheobsessionwithpersonalelectoralsurvivalatallcosts.(GarryBickley,‘TheAustralian’,4/12/00)Thedaywillcomewhennationswillbejudgednotbytheirmilitaryoreconomicstrength,norbythesplendouroftheircapitalcitiesandpublicbuildings,butbythewell-beingoftheirpeople:bytheirlevelsofhealth,nutritionandeducation;bytheiropportunitiestoearnafairrewardfortheirlabours;bytheirabilitytoparticipateinthedecisionsthataffecttheirlives;bytherespectthatisshownfortheircivilandpoliticalliberties;bytheprovisionthatismadeforthosewhoarevulnerableanddisadvantaged;andbytheprotectionthatisaffordedtothegrowingmindsandbodiesoftheirchildren.(UnitedNationsChildren’sFund(UNICEF),TheProgressofNations,1998)
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Leunig’slastword:Wemeasurewhatmatterstous
