Paper Sample on Measuring Society's Progress: A Guide to Indicators

Measuring society’s progress is considered an important factor by the majority of the communities (Hall, Jon, 20). The reason why people view measuring society’s progress as significant to them is that it enables society to know their weaknesses and strengths. The progress of a society is usually measured by using several indicators. Indicators are mostly preferred when measuring societal progress because it helps to determine the well-being of each individual. Also, indicators are normally used during the implementation of policies. Moreover, indicators help in discovering certain information, goals, and community values. The paper will, therefore, focus on the criteria that are used to bring about happiness in society while measuring society’s progress.

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Some of the criteria that are essential to happiness include: the determination of societal progress by use of criteria such as Gross domestic product and identification of community vitality. The adoption of Gross domestic product (GDP) as an indicator in the country is essential in most of our societies. This is because GDP helps in the improvement of people’s living standards, thus leading to happiness (Salvaris, Mike 24). Community vitality is the other essential to happiness since it shows how people closely associate with each other in their various communities.

The criteria for using education helps to define happiness in society because it eliminates illiteracy. Also, the acquisition of knowledge through education aids in the creation of a humane society where all people are treated equally. Moreover, education helps people to gain more skills, for instance, life skills that are usually used in the process of decision-making.

Measuring social progress through the criteria of good governance also defines happiness in society. Through good governance, people are able to get access to employment and fairness in terms of the distribution of resources. Moreover, good governance enables people to exercise their fundamental rights, such as the right to fair representation in leadership positions hence making them feel a sense of recognition (Stiglitz, Joseph, 27).

Conclusion

My current situation matches the criteria used to define happiness because of the following reasons. This is because I view the definition of happiness by the use of indicators as important since it has enabled me to identify ways in which people can express their feelings. Also, the criteria used to define happiness matches my current situation because I can easily learn societal values and how resources are shared equally.

Works Cited

Salvaris, Mike. "Democracy, Happiness, and Progress Measurement." OECD Global Conference on „Measuring and Defining the Progress of Societies, " Istanbul, 2007.

Hall, Jon. "The OECD’s Global Project on Measuring the Progress of Societies." (2009).

Stiglitz, Joseph. "Globalizing the GDP Debate." Conference on „Thailand" 's Future Beyond the Global Crisis: A Regional Platform Towards the Wellbeing Society. 2009.