Potentials for a socially equitable and ecologically sustainable society

domestic product (GDP) growth, material resource use and carbon emissions it is remarkable that most economic policy approaches do not question the priority placed on GDP growth (Jackson 2009). Assuming that the basic function of economic development is the provision of conditions for human beings to prosper in their personal and social lives, our research attempts to identify potentials for a type of prosperity where economic activity remains within ecological carrying capacities. Our paper contributes to this undertaking in a two-fold way: First, by considering the multidimensional character of human prosperity, we discuss this concept theoretically and operationalise it in terms of ecological sustainability, social inclusion and the quality of life; second, we demonstrate the different degrees of success to which present countries are promoting prosperity in statistical analyses and identify groups of countries according to their current prosperity performance.