Due to the great uncertainty of the global epidemic situation and the economic and trade situation, China ’s development faces some unpredictable influencing factors. This year ’s government work report does not propose specific targets for the annual economic growth rate. Recently, experts such as Liu Shijin, deputy director of the Economic Committee of the CPPCC National Committee, also put forward proposals to no longer set specific targets for economic growth at the national level.

CITIC Press ’s new book “The Illusion of Growth: Are Economists Wrong?” “Author David Pilling believes that in measuring the level of economic development, the indicator of GDP may have failed, and policy makers should reflect on the design of an indicator system related to the environment, equality, happiness, etc. To quantify social development.


“The Illusion of Growth: Are Economists Wrong?” “

” GDP measures the output of various products, regardless of whether these products are good or bad. “Pirin believes that in the economic field, More does not mean better. GDP is not good at measuring new things, it is difficult to capture the great progress of mankind in the fields of technology, knowledge sharing, women’s hidden labor value, etc., and it also includes negative economic activities such as drugs and pollution.

Pirin also introduced several potential alternative indicators of pros and cons, covering measures of wealth, equality and sustainability, and “subjective well-being” ( That is, each of us’ happiness) and other indicators, he said that we often view most social development through economic growth, and this habit may make us ignore the development quality and new value that are really worthy of attention.

The book “The Illusion of Growth” shows that although GDP, average income and other methods have their inherent economics, they are gradually shifting from manufacturing to economic structure. Under the background of the service industry and the transition from analog to digital, it seems increasingly illogical.