(10 April 2015) – The Social Progress Index, now used by the European Commission according to The Guardian, considers social and environmental indicators to measure a country’s success.
In a breakthrough for campaigners seeking a more holistic approach to measuring the health of nations, the European Commission has committed to integrating social and environmental considerations into the heart of its economic decision making.
The EC’s director general of regional and urban policy, Walter Deffaa, has agreed to use the Social Progress Index (SPI), which enables countries to evaluate how effectively they translate economic success into social progress, as a key tool in deciding how to allocate €63.4bn to deprived regions in the European Union.
The index uses 52 indicators ranging from healthcare and housing to ecosystem sustainability and freedom from discrimination. (The Guardian)