Transcript Decision making beyond GDP

Decision making beyond GDP:
needs and a vision
Background
Pier Carlo Padoan
Pier Carlo Padoan, Deputy Secretary General of the
OECD.
From 2001 to 2005, Mr. Padoan was the Italian
Executive Director at the International Monetary
Fund, with responsibility for Greece, Portugal, San
Marino, Albania and Timor Leste. He served as a
member of the Board and chaired a number of
Board Committees. During his mandate at the IMF
he was also in charge of European Co-ordination.
From 1998 to 2001, Mr. Padoan served as
Economic Adviser to the Italian Prime Ministers,
Massimo D’Alema and Giuliano Amato, in
charge of international economic policies. He
was responsible for co-ordinating the Italian
position in the Agenda 2000 negotiations for the
EU budget, Lisbon Agenda, European Council,
bilateral meetings, and G8 Summits.
He has been a consultant to the World Bank,
European Commission, European Central Bank.
Mr. Padoan has a degree in Economics from
the University of Rome and has held various
academic positions in Italian and foreign
universities. He has published widely in
international academic journals and is the
author and editor of several books.
The Beyond GDP conference
The Beyond GDP conference, organised by the
European Commission, European Parliament,
Club of Rome, OECD, and WWF, brought
together over 650 delegates from more than 50
countries to explore how to improve the
measurement of progress, true wealth and the
well-being of nations. It fully supported the
momentum to go beyond GDP.
The Beyond GDP conference revealed a high
degree of consensus on the need for change. The
participants from industry, trade unions, NGOs,
academia and government questioned not whether
action is needed but on 'how' we complement or
improve on GDP, and develop new indicators for
the 21st Century. I am pleased that the conference
led to concrete commitments for further action
from all the partners involved.
Words and Expressions
encompass
embrace; If something encompasses
particular things, it includes them.
e.g. His repertoire encompassed
everything from Bach to Schoenberg.
per capita
The per capita amount of something is
the total amount of it in a country or area
divided by the number of people in that
country or area.
e.g.They have the world's largest per
capita income.
ingredient
Ingredients are the things that are used to
make something, especially all the different
foods you use when you are cooking a
particular dish.
e.g. Mix in the remaining ingredients.
preparatory
Preliminary;Preparatory actions are done
before doing something else as a form of
preparation or as an introduction.
e.g. At least a year's preparatory work will be
necessary before building can start.
tackle
If you tackle a difficult problem or task,
you deal with it in a very determined or
efficient way.
e.g. The first reason to tackle these
problems is to save children's lives.
consensus
A consensus is general agreement
among a group of people.
e.g. The consensus amongst the world's
scientists is that the world is likely to
warm up over the next few decades.
scepticism
Scepticism is great doubt about whether
something is true or useful.
e.g. There was considerable scepticism
about the Chancellor's forecast of a
booming economy.
undermine
If you undermine something such as a
feeling or a system, you make it less strong or
less secure than it was before, often by a
gradual process or by repeated efforts.
e.g. Offering advice on each and every
problem will undermine her feeling of being
adult.
reiterate
Repeat; If you reiterate something, you
say it again, usually in order to
emphasize it.
e.g. He reiterated his opposition to the
creation of a central bank.
advocate
recommend; If you advocate a particular
action or plan, you recommend it publicly.
e.g. Mr Williams is a conservative who
advocates fewer government controls on
business.
assist
help; If you assist someone, you help
them to do a job or task by doing part of
the work for them.
e.g. Dr Amid was assisted by a young
Asian nurse.
cohesion
If there is cohesion within a society,
organization, or group, the different
members fit together well and form a united
whole.
e.g. By 1990, it was clear that the cohesion
of the armed forces was rapidly breaking
down.
underpin
If one thing underpins another, it helps
the other thing to continue or succeed by
supporting and strengthening it.
e.g. All this was underpinned by
Michael's work on the UK Declaration of
Human Rights for people with Aids and
HIV.
biennial
A biennial event happens or is done
once every two years.
e.g. they will attend the biennial
Commonwealth conference next week.
assess
evaluate; When you assess a person,
thing, or situation, you consider them in
order to make a judgment about them.
e.g. Our correspondent has been
assessing the impact of the sanctions.
impartial
Someone who is impartial is not directly
involved in a particular situation, and is
therefore able to give a fair opinion or
decision about it.
e.g. Careers officers offer impartial advice
to all pupils.
ambitious
Someone who is ambitious has a strong
desire to be successful, rich, or powerful.
e.g. Chris is so ambitious, so determined
to do it all.