Joshua

“it also leaves out much of what is good: it doesn’t count non-monetised economic activities, even when they are essential to human life and well-being. If you grow your own food, clean your own house or care for your ageing parents, GDP says nothing. It only counts if you pay companies to do these things for you.”
― Jason Hickel, Less is More: How Degrowth Will Save the World

“In short, the quiet political philosophy behind classical liberalism holds that capitalist business owners should rule. The self-regulating market is a facade covering political domination by business owners. Thus the name “propertarianism,” because its main practical tenet is that the owners of property should exercise political command over society.”
― Ryan Cooper, How Are You Going to Pay for That?: Smart Answers to the Dumbest Question in Politics

“But Kuznets was careful to emphasise that GDP is flawed. It tallies up monetised economic activity, but it doesn’t care whether that activity is useful or destructive. If you cut down a forest for timber, GDP goes up. If you extend the working day and push back the retirement age, GDP goes up. If pollution causes hospital visits to rise, GDP goes up.”
― Jason Hickel, Less is More: How Degrowth Will Save the World