Am învățat să numărăm tancurile și am crezut că măsurăm prosperitatea. Povestea PIB-ului

The article discusses the origins and implications of GDP, introduced by Simon Kuznets in 1934. Kuznets warned that national income measures do not reflect a nation's well-being, a caution largely ignored. His work became crucial during the Great Depression, providing clarity on economic conditions. However, Kuznets excluded military spending from GDP, leading to political challenges. John Maynard Keynes proposed a competing measure that included government expenditures, which gained acceptance post-World War II. The article highlights the ongoing debate about what GDP truly measures and its limitations in reflecting societal welfare, echoing sentiments from figures like Robert F. Kennedy.