Bridging beyond GDP and degrowth: Identifying measurements that are fit for future

This paper evaluates the incorporation of degrowth criteria into existing beyond GDP measurements and explores how this can guide coherent theorisation and framing from a degrowth perspective. While primarily descriptive in mapping the extent to which existing measurements reflect degrowth criteria, the paper also offers prescriptive insights for future indicator development. GDP, long a benchmark for economic progress, has been consistently criticized for neglecting ecological and social externalities. Due to the performative nature of the economics discipline, its theories and methods, such neglects can misguide policies and decision making around economic, environmental, and societal challenges. This article starts with a synthesis of the critiques on GDP, degrowth scholarship and disciplinary critiques on economic growth, identifies degrowth criteria and subsequently executes an extensive international literature review. We utilize the Search, Appraisal, Synthesis and Analysis framework to classify 58 beyond GDP measurements, stemming from 94 studies and map their contributions in a Venn diagram. We find that many measurements integrate some degrowth criteria (e.g. HDI, OECD's Better Life Initiative), or related components, however a comprehensive integration is lacking. Furthermore, the findings show substantial gaps in the measurement of strong sustainability and biophysical boundaries, social justice and democracy. Only two measurement frameworks—Just Transition Score, and variants of the Safe and Just Space measurement—systematically integrate degrowth criteria; however, they still exhibit theoretical and methodological gaps. We recommend the development of new clear and robust measurements based on broad agreement on coherent conceptual foundations; operational degrowth criteria, and methodological consistency.