News from our speakers

President Nicholas Sarkozy, has announced that a panel led by Joseph Stiglitz, the American critic of globalisation is to seek to develop new indicators for economic growth. These would include a measure of quality of life alongside traditional numerical indicators of production and output.

Mr Stiglitz, who is known for his critique of the World Bank's approach to economic development, confirmed that he would chair the panel. He said that standard measures of GDP don't include the effect of environmental degradation on public wellbeing. "If you improve the quality of life, it doesn't show in material consumption, it doesn't show up in GDP," said Mr Stiglitz.