1. Measuring sustainability across the contemporary socio-economic systems
Outlines:
Basic concepts
Main measurements in use (global and local level)
Some experiences around the World
Conclusions

2. Basic concepts
GDP is not adequate?

3. Basic concepts From GDP to: GDP at Purchasing Power Parity - PPP
Adjustment of GDP with local currency prices and cost of local services
Physical Quality of Life Index – PQLI (M.D. Morris, ‘70s)
GDP + life expectancy + literacy + infant mortality
Measure of Economic Welfare – MEW (W. D. Nordhaus & J. Tobin, 1972)
GDP with non market economy (entertainments, family services…)
Genuine Progress Indicator – GPI
Human Development Index – HDI (UN, from ’90s)
Composite indicator
Commission on the Measurement of Economic Performance and Social Progress – CMEPSP ….

4. Basic concepts Welfare economics:
Branch of economic studies to evaluate wellbeing at an aggregate level.
Amartya Sen and the capabilities approach:
The importance of real freedoms in the assessment of a person's advantage
Individual differences in the ability to transform resources into valuable activities
The multi-variate nature of activities giving rise to happiness
A balance of materialistic and nonmaterialistic factors in evaluating human welfare
Concern for the distribution of opportunities within society.
Definition of wellbeing
Definition of appropriate measurements
Types of measurements: subjective and objective

5. Economic – financial viability Quality of environment and landscapes
Basic concepts
Economic – financial viability
Quality of environment and landscapes
Human and social welfare
Sustainability

6. Measurements and the four dimensions of sustainability: HABITAT
Landscape and natural resources
Ecological footprint: provide comprehensive data on humanity’s demand on nature

7. Ecological creditors and debtors, 2005
Source: Global Footprint Network, 2009

8. Ecological creditors and debtors, 1961 - 2005
Source: Global Footprint Network, 2009

9. Measurements and the four dimensions of sustainability: HABITAT
Landscape and natural resources

10. Measurements and the four dimensions of sustainability: HABITAT
Landscape and natural resources
The WALKABILITY INDEX includes four components that capture differences in the physical environment:
Residential density is the number of residential units per acre within a neighbourhood. A higher value indicates that more people live in the area.
Commercial density (also called Retail Floor Area Ratio) is the amount of area designated for commercial use within a neighbourhood. A higher value indicates that more businesses, restaurants, retail shops and other commercial uses are located in the area.
Land use mix is the degree of mixing of different types of land uses (such as residential, commercial, entertainment, and office development) in a specific area. A higher value indicates a more even distribution of land between the different types of land uses.
Street connectivity is measured by the number of street intersections in a neighbourhood. A higher value indicates more intersections and a greater degree of connectivity enabling more direct travel between two points using existing streets and pathways.

11. Measurements and the four dimensions of sustainability: HABITAT
Competitiveness and
eco-innovation

12. Measurements and the four dimensions of sustainability: HABITAT
Environmental Performance Index

13. Measurements and the four dimensions of sustainability: ECONOMY
Economic and financial viability
Gini Coefficient

14. Income share held by lowest 20%, 2010
Source: World Bank, 2011

15. Income share held by highest 20%, 2010
Source: World Bank, 2011

16. Human Development Index (HDI)
The Human Development Index (HDI) is a composite statistic used to rank countries by level of "human development" and separate "very high human development", "high human development", "medium human development", and "low human development" countries. The Human Development Index (HDI) is a comparative measure of life expectancy, literacy, education and standards of living for countries worldwide. It is a standard means of measuring well-being, especially child welfare. It is used to distinguish whether the country is a developed, a developing or an under-developed country, and also to measure the impact of economic policies on quality of life. There are also HDI for states, cities, villages, etc. by local organizations or companies.

17. Source: United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), 2011
Human Development Index (HDI) value, 2011
Source: United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), 2011

18. Competitiveness INDEX
First 30
Last 30

19. Big Mac Index
Source: The Economist, 2011

20. Measurements and the four dimensions of sustainability: SOCIETY
Social security and individual welfare
Criminality, migration, urban/rural population, ageing process…
Happy Planet Index
Genuine Progress Indicator
Some maps from “Le Monde Diplomatique”

21. Population ageing: global population pyramids
Proportion of population aged 60 and over
Source: UNDESA, World Population Ageing

26. Measurements at national and local level
BES (ISTAT - Italy)
Local Wellbeing Project
Local Wellbeing Index
Ecosistema Urbano (Legambiente – IT)
Qualità della vita (Il Sole 24 Ore - Italy)

27. Measurements and the four dimensions of sustainability
Landscape and natural resources
Ecological footprint: provide comprehensive data on humanity’s demand on nature
Other issues: energy consumption, protected areas, water consumption, waste generated, life-cycle assessment
Economic and financial viability
Gini Index, Competitiveness Index, measures of economic vitality…
Social security and individual welfare
Criminality, migration, urban/rural population, ageing process…
Moral legitimacy
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