Robert F.Kennedy once said that a country’s GDP measures“everything except that which makes life worthwhile.”With Britain voting to leave the European Union,and GDP already predicted to slow as a result,it is now a timely moment to assess what he was referring to.The question of GDP and its usefulness has annoyed policymakers for over half a century.Many argue that it is a flawed concept.It measures things that do not matter and miss things that do.By most recent measures,the UK’s GDP has been the envy of the Western World,with record low unemployment and high growth figures.If everything was going so so well,then why did over 17million people vote for Brexit,despite the warnings about what it could do to their country’s economic prospects?A recent annual study of countries and their ability to convert growth into well-being sheds some light on that question.Across the 163 countries measured,the UK is one of the poorest performers in ensuring that economic growth is translated into meaningful improvement for its citizens.Rather than just focusing on GDR over 40 different sets of criteria from health,education and civil society engagement have been measured to get a more rounded assessment of how countries are performing.While all of these countries face their own challenges,there are a number of consistent themes.Yes,there has been a budding economic recovery since the 2008 global crash,but in key indicators in areas such as health and education,major economies have continued to decline.Yet this isn't the case with all countries.Some relatively poor European countries have seen huge improvements across measures including civil society;income equality and the environment.This is a lesson that rich countries can learn:When GDP is no longer regarded as the sole measure of a country’s success,the world looks very different.So what Kennedy was referring to was that while GDP has been the most common method for measuring the economic activity of nations,as a measure,it is no longer enough.It does not include important factors such as environmental equality or education outcomes-all things that contribute to a person's sense of well-being.The sharp hit to growth predicted around the world and in the UK could lead to a decline in the everyday services we depend on for our well-being and for growth.But policymaker who refocus efforts on improving well-being rather than simply worrying about GDP figures could avoid the forecasted doom and may even see progress.
Which of the following is the best?for the text?
- A.High GDP But Inadequate Well-being,a UK lesson
- B.GDP figures,a Window on Global Economic Health
- C.Robert F.Kennedy,a Terminator of GDP
- D.Brexit,the UK’s Gateway to Well-being
正确答案及解析
正确答案
解析
主旨题。文章首段通过引用Kenndy对GDP的评价以及英国脱欧事件引出本文探讨的主题GDP。第二段首句指出对GDP疑问和其无用之处使得政策制定者很恼火,呈现出对GDP的负面态度。第三段至第六段通过研究得出结论,GDP没能包含所有因素。最后一段在转折之后再度指出政策制定者已经不仅仅只是担心GDP数据(rather than simply worrying about GDP figures),而是重新关注提高幸福的其他努力。故正确答案为选项A,高GDP但对幸福不足够,欧盟的教训。