The Quality of Development Index— A New Headline Indicator of Progress

In this paper a new Quality of Development Index (QDI) is introduced and applied. The QDI provides a national-level measure of progress that reflects changes related to well-being, community, and the environment. The paper argues generally for a more explicit linkage between indicators of progress and values, and for a larger role for such indicators in quantitative scenario-based visioning exercises. Use of the QDI is suggested in place of the Gross Domestic Product, the current defacto headline indicator of progress.