Social Progress in Asia Pacific: Why Richer Countries Aren't Always Better Off
From Beyond GDP: The Social Progress Podcast · 19:28
Show by Social Progress Imperative
We have been conditioned to believe that economic growth solves societal problems, but the numbers tell a very different story. Philip Schellekens, UNDP's Chief Economist for Asia-Pacific, and host Michael Green explore what the new Social Progress Index Time Series (data from 1990-2023) results mean for Asia-Pacific.They explain why some of Asia's fastest-growing economies lag in societal well-being while less-rich nations excel. Which countries lead in the Asia-Pacific subregions? Which countries are not delivering on social progress? Could it be Japan, China, Korea, Australia, or New Zealand? Philip and Michael also analyze the current technological revolution, detailing how artificial intelligence could trigger a great divergence between nations. Rather than settling into common debates about whether we should panic or get hyped by AI, they focus on how capabilities, systemic vulnerabilities, resilience, and policy choices will shape who survives the next phase of global disruption.Explore the new edition of the Time Series at https://www.socialprogress.org/social-progress-index-time-series This conversation was part of our Index launch event. Watch the full event on our YouTube channel. Please follow and rate our show! Explore our work at https://www.socialprogress.org/Interested in the Social Progress Index? Learn more. Help us advance social progress across the world! Your donation makes a huge difference to us. Donate now! Want the full story? Subscribe to our newsletter!
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