In the present article, José Eli da Veiga critically examines the globally established socioeconomic measures, like the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and the Human Development Index (HDI). The author contextualizes the creation of such measures and points out their limitations, arguing that while they can measure the economic performance of a given society, they are not intended to measure welfare and sustainability.

Da Veiga addresses the major issues related to the development and adoption of new indicators, selecting four to be examined in detail. These indexes – all created by renowned international institutions – seek to overcome the notion of wealth based on the production of commodities and on physical capital. Instead, they propose a narrative of progress that is more compatible with the 21st century, focusing on people’s quality of life and on environmental sustainability.