HDI/UNDP paper presented at ISQOLS 2026 in Lexington, Kentucky

Today, at the 24th Annual Conference of the International Society for Quality-of-Life Studies (ISQOLS 2026), «Beyond the Bluegrass: Harnessing Research to Enhance Quality of life», which is held at the University of Kentucky in Lexington, Kentucky (USA) August 11–14th, I have presented my paper «Alternative HDI thresholds for maximum income demonstrate significance for policy advice» as part of Session 7A «Well-being policy and measurement». Some 11 people attended. The session was chaired by Joseph Sirgy.

Two abstracts submitted to ISQOLS 2026 organizers

I have just composed and submitted the abstracts below to the organizers of the ISQOLS 2026 Annual Conference, "Beyond the Bluegrass: Harnessing Research to Enhance Quality-of-Life", which is to be held in Kentucky, USA, August 11-14.

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Climate imaginaries and the contested future of economic growth

KEYWORDS: Climate economics; climate imaginaries; degrowth; economic growth; green growth  

Conflicting views on economic growth comprise a controversial issue related to climate economics. While the mainstream of climate economists assert that continued and practically endless economic growth can be taken for granted, critics dispute this and advance alternative economic ideas about a post-growth, degrowth or steady-state economy. Growth of different magnitudes is likewise expected according to most climate scenarios. I assess different ideas about economic growth in the climate discourse by relating them to the notion of climate imaginaries, which can be understood as socio-semiotic systems of shared ideas about issues related to climate change. The powerful influence of climate imaginaries can be decisive with regard to how climate policy and governance is understood and implemented, for instance whether incremental or radical change is pursued. Climate imaginaries range from anticipating apocalypse or radical societal change to relying on business-as-usual scenarios or techno-optimism. Core issues in climate ethics related to equity and intergenerational justice are often framed on the background of the common expectation that future generations will be better off in economic terms. Using climate imaginaries to frame a discussion of conflicting views on the future of economic growth, I will trace the history of green growth and degrowth ideas as applied to the climate issue, with a main focus on the last 30–40 years.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES / TAKEAWAYS  

* Expectations about future economic growth matters for policy discussions 

* Climate scenarios incorporate only one side of the debate (pro-growth) 

* Criticism of mainstream climate economics is required to account for future welfare

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Alternative HDI thresholds for maximum income demonstrate significance for policy advice  

KEYWORDS: human development; Human Development Index; income; methodology, UNDP

For several years, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) misquoted Kahneman & Deaton´s article “High income improves evaluation of life but not emotional well-being” (Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), 2010) in its technical notes, which describes its methodology for computing the Human Development Index (HDI). This article was erroneously used as basis for capping Gross National Income (GNI) per capita at $75,000. Since the HDRO23/24 Technical notes, released in Spring 2024, the reference to Kahneman & Deaton has been removed in the UNDP´s methodological descriptions, but when computing the HDI the UNDP still caps Gross National Income (GNI) per capita at $75,000. On the background of how the HDI is currently computed, the UNDP has been criticized for promoting policies that weaken environmental sustainability by presenting rich yet unsustainable Western countries as role models for economic development. I will describe how the HDI´s income metrics have changed over time, and outline what difference it would make for HDI rankings of various countries if Gross National Income (GNI) per capita were capped at a) a level just above extreme poverty ($1.095); b) the world average ($20.327); c) the OECD average ($52.698), or d) kept but without any maximum. As these alternative HDI computations will show, simply changing the maximum threshold for income per capita radically changes what countries appear as role models for human development.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES / TAKEAWAYS  

* The Human Development Index´ maximum income threshold is not justified by current research 

* With a high maximum threshold for income, rich yet unsustainable Western countries appear as role models for human development 

* Alternative HDI computations, with different thresholds for maximum income, demonstrate what difference these metrics make for policy advice

#4,5

Today I have had an article writing day, with some 350 words written, mainly on a revised version of my "UNDP Letter" which is now to be expanded into an full research article. I also did a little work on my article "Wasted GDP in major economies" and a few other article projects. So far this Spring I have had 4,5 writing days including 1 article writing day.

#37,5

Today I have had half an article day with some work done related to two articles of mine, one of them work-titled "Wasted GDP in major economies" and the other one being my "UNDP letter" addressing the HDI´s maximum threshold for income (see also the previous post). So far this Autumn I have had 37,5 writing days.

UNDP´s USA page listing "Wasted GDP in the USA" article under Recent media

My article "Wasted GDP in the USA" is referred to on the UNDP´s USA representation office homepage, under "Recent media".

#3

Today I have had a writing day, the 3rd this Autumn, focussed on my re-working of my so-called UNDP letter, now aimed for Journal of Human Development and Capabilities. I have also updated myself on the UNDP´s work towards HDR 2023.

#1

Today I have had the first work day, and first writing day, in the Autumn semester (which officially only begins mid-August), with writing plans made for the Autumn, and a little work on our GDP review article and my UNDP letter.

Presentation "Wasted growth?" given for Human Development Report Office

Today I have given the talk "Wasted growth?" in the research seminar of the Human Development Report Office (UNDP) in New York, via Zoom, with some 13 people attending.

#18,5

Today I have had half a writing day, with some preparatory work done on my "UNDP letter" (see below), and my chapter "A biosemiotic perspective on the human condition and the environmental crisis", with some 100 words added to the latter.

See also:

Atlantic Economic Journal - decision on article "The HDI´s maximum limit for income is unfounded"

To give presentation on wasted growth at HDRO research seminar

I have been scheduled to give a presentation in the HDRO research seminar (for the Human Development Report Office, UNDP) on March 21st, titled "Wasted Growth?", via Zoom.

#3

Yesterday I had half a writing day, and submitted my brief article "The HDI´s maximum limit for income is unfounded" to Atlantic Economic Journal. Number of writing days so far this Spring is 3.

Chronicle on latest HDI data in Stavanger Aftenblad

Today my chronicle "Menneskelig utvikling i revers etter pandemien" (Human development in reverse after the pandemic) was published in print in the Norwegian regional daily Stavanger Aftenblad. It was also quoted on p. 2 in the newspaper.

2 meetings in/from New York

Today, working from New York City, I have attended a digital UIS meeting, and a physical meeting at the UNDP´s Human Development Report Office.

#41

Today I have had the 41st writing day this Spring, with my UNDP letter edited and submitted to The World Bank Research Observer, and some 600 words altogether added to this text, the wasted growth article I am revising currently, and my Steffens chapter.

#37,5

Today I have had article writing day no. 37,5 this Spring, with work done on my UNDP letter and wasted growth articles, and some 200 words added net.

Letter "The HDI´s maximum limit for income is unfounded" rejected, submitted again

My Letter "The HDI´s maximum limit for income is unfounded" was rejected by Science, I have now submitted it to Nature.

#35,5

Today I have had an article writing day (#35,5 this Spring) with some work done on our GDP article, and on my UNDP letter, which I finished and submitted as a letter to Science, titled "The HDI´s maximum limit for income is unfounded". Overall I deleted about as many words as I wrote.