Why Does the GDP Go Up when the World Burns?

Send us Fan MailGross Domestic Product tracks how much stuff we produce—but does it tell us how well we’re doing? In this episode of American Socrates, we question the dominance of GDP as our society’s main scoreboard. Through a powerful personal story and a clear-eyed breakdown of alternative metrics—from the Human Development Index to Gross National Happiness—we expose how GDP hides inequality, erases care work, and confuses growth with well-being. What if success meant more than just making more? Discover why it's time to rethink what we measure—and what matters.Keywords: GDP, economic growth, well-being, Human Development Index, Gross National Happiness, inequality, care work, economics and ethics, American Socrates podcastSupport the show