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The release of the final report and indicator dashboard of the United Nations Secretary General’s High Level Expert Group on Beyond GDP on 7 May 2026 marks an important milestone in global discussions on how progress, wellbeing and sustainability are measured. This webinar, hosted by the International Statistical Institute Academy, aims to inform the statistical community about the key findings of the Beyond GDP initiative and explore their implications for official statistics, policy use and future statistical development.
The webinar is divided into three parts: first, an introduction to the policy motivations behind the Beyond GDP agenda and the new indicator dashboard intended to complement traditional economic indicators to capture societal progress; second, an analysis of initial findings, data gaps, and emerging needs based on the indicators included in the new dashboard; and finally, a discussion with the academic community on the future of progress measurement and indicator development.
The webinar is designed for producers of official statistics, statistical methodologists, researchers and policymakers interested in the evolving role of statistics in shaping economic and social decision making.
Session Outline and Speakers
- Beyond GDP: Key Messages from the High Level Expert Group
Speaker: Enrico Giovannini (Professor, University of Rome “Tor Vergata” and Scientific Director of the Italian Alliance for Sustainable Development - ASviS)
Abstract: This opening presentation will introduce the Beyond GDP initiative in its broader global policy context, presenting the thinking of the UN Secretary General’s High Level Expert Group. The speaker will outline the motivation behind the Beyond GDP agenda, the conceptual foundations of the framework, and the intended role of the new dashboard in complementing traditional economic indicators. The presentation will also highlight the implications for the statistical community and the next steps following the release of the HLEG’s final report. - The Insights from the Beyond GDP dashboard and the way forward
Speaker: Anu Peltola (Director, Statistics Division, UNCTAD)
Abstract: This presentation will share the first insights based on data on the Beyond GDP dashboard. It will illustrate how the metrics related to wellbeing, equity and sustainability provide additional insights beyond income, and discuss methodological choices, data availability and comparability challenges encountered. The session will also discuss UN support for countries’ statistical offices in filling data gaps and developing missing indicators, highlighting how the metrics can support policy analysis when used alongside economic data. - Beyond GDP – Call for Future Research to Change How We Measure Progress
Speaker: Richard Samans
Abstract: This presentation will draw on the UN Economist Network paper on ‘Progressing Beyond GDP: Towards a Multidimensional Living Standards Index (MLSI) and Integrated Headline Measure of Gross National Sustainable Development (GNSD)’. The speaker will discuss advancing a broader conception and measurement of economic progress than that captured by conventional measures of an economy’s output and discuss the need for new headline indicators to achieve real behavioural changes. The session will provide an academic perspective that complements the policy driven approach of the Beyond GDP initiative and encourages constructive dialogue among the statistical, academic and policy communities.
Co-organizer(s):International Statistical Institute Academy