The economy can get better while life gets worse for most people. After all, an economy where 95% of the work was done by enslaved people might produce amazing profits and a very high GDP....

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lokar 3 hours ago | parent | next [-]

The use of GDP, or GDP/Population as the primary metric is a real problem.

We need to use a metric that is closer to "total economic benefit for the median person", that would include income, as well as government services.

	▲	cess11 3 hours ago \| parent [-]
		The Gini coefficient and sometimes its' velocity would be a better alternative. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gini_coefficient

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Joel_Mckay 3 hours ago | parent | prev [-]

GDP is a measure of economic activity, and goes up when people are forced to rebuild after natural disasters etc.

%Debt to GDP excluding military pay and allowances indicates how your grandchildren will live. Above >130% they will be poor, and remain poor indefinitely. You may disagree, but it is not like anyone wants this to happen.

The economic conservatives were compromised, and went insane =3

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CalRobert 2 hours ago | parent [-]

I wish it were easier to measure well-being. Someone who works 20 hours a week and half has as much money may well be enjoying life more than someone working 40 hours a week, but we don't quantify this well.

When I lived in California I was always weirded out by colleagues talking about how they never took vacations. It's like bragging about being poor.

	▲	Joel_Mckay an hour ago \| parent [-]
		Generally, there is a fundamental philosophical difference between currency and wealth. In silicon valley, a middle class life is well over >$180k/yr, as Rent-seeking economics is unsustainable. Rule #23: Don't compete to be at the bottom, as you just might actually win. Have a glorious day =3 The ikigai chart helps some highlight better options: https://hyperisland.com/en/blog/thought-leadership/feeling-d...