The Economist is hosting a 10-day debate of the proposition:
This house believes that GDP growth is a poor measure of improving living standards.
Opening statements:
- Defending the motion: Andrew Oswald, Professor of economics, University of Warwick
- Against the motion: Steve Landefeld, Director of the Bureau of Economic Analysis, U.S. Department of Commerce
- Moderator’s opening remarks: Patrick Lane, Deputy Business Affairs Editor, The Economist
Rebuttals:
- Defending the motion: Andrew Oswald
- Against the motion: Steve Landefeld
- Moderator: Patrick Lane
Featured guest: Enrico Giovanni, President, Italian Statistical Office
Featured guest: Michael Boskin, T.M. Friedman Professor of Economics; Senior Fellow, Hoover Institution, Stanford
Featured guest: Me
Closing statements:
- Defending the motion: Andrew Oswald
- Against the motion: Steve Landefeld
- Moderator: Patrick Lane
Thanks to the Economist for including me in the debate.
On day 1 of the debate, 69% of voters agreed with the motion, 31% disagreed. Agree is now up to 72%. I don’t know whether that 70% range is primarily a function of the quality of the arguments or instead of the initial views of those who chose to vote.
Here is my statement.