September 30, 2026
In his Hindustan Times column, OHT’s Dr. Ramanan Laxminarayan examines how debates over India’s GDP growth figures can distract from the factors that truly determine quality of life.
Using Aesop’s fable of a donkey’s shadow, he explains how arguments over economic measurements can overshadow more important questions about national progress.
He highlights that GDP measures economic activity. But it does not capture clean air, safe roads, reliable public services, equitable opportunities, or public health.
Dr. Laxminarayan argues that economic growth should be assessed alongside improvements in people’s lives. He is asking whether GDP can adequately represent national progress and human flourishing.
Read the article here.
