The motivation of the Social Progress Index is best summarized by the quote from Michael Green’s 2014 TedTalk:
The term Gross Domestic Product is often talked about as if it were “handed down from god on tablets of stone.” But this concept was invented by an economist in the 1920s. We need a more effective measurement tool to match 21st century needs.
The “more effective tool” is a Social Progress Index, an SPI. It is a very useful compliment to Gross Domestic Product, or any other economic measure, that shows how well economic effort is being turned into what matters to people. If you watch the 2014 TedTalk or read an SPI global report (fig 4/pg 8) you learn that “GDP is not destiny” and that the index can identify outcomes that are different than expected for a given GDP.
Since 2016, WhatWorks conferences have been held to provide a place to gather and talk about success stories, what works, what is needed, and how it can be applied to create a BFFA. Places like Orange County California, Costa Rica, Burroughs of London, the Brazilian Amazon, Iceland, the EU and India have all used the SPI framework to guide and make policy choices. They show that SPI can be used to measure and create impactful positive outcomes for people and their communities.
Examples of successful use of SPI are Orange County’s Katie Kalvoda’s G3 Ventures; Advance OC and the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham’s Saima Ashraf (Deputy Leader of the Council) and Pye Nyunt (Head of Insight and Innovation).
Social Progress Index Score vs GDP per Capita