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.

ISQOLS 2026 papers scheduled for presentation in Lexington, Kentucky August 13th and 14th

I have now retrieved information about the scheduled presentation times (see the conference program) for my two accepted papers 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 to be held at University of Kentucky in Lexington, Kentucky (USA) August 11–14th:

— On Thursday August 13th I will present my paper «Climate imaginaries and the contested future of economic growth» as part of Session 4E «Ecological sustainability, agriculture, and wellbeing» (Gatton Ballroom A at 09.00–10.30)

— On Friday August 14th I will present my paper «Alternative HDI thresholds for maximum income demonstrate significance for policy advice» as part of Session 7A «Well-being policy and measurement» (room 330A at 10:30–12:00)

Philosophy business 2025

I have just composed the annual financial report of my one-man company "Spør filosofen" for 2025. Altogether I earned 9.309 NOK while I had 1.856 NOK in expenses, resulting in a surplus of 7.453 NOK and a margin of 80,06%. Over the last 5 years, however, the accumulated 5-year surplus is -2.764,41 NOK and the margin negative at -18,09%.

Two papers accepted for presentation at ISQOLS 2026 (Lexington, Kentucky, USA)

I have been notified by the organizers of the 24th Annual Conference of the International Society for Quality-of-Life Studies (ISQOLS 2026), with the theme «Beyond the Bluegrass: Harnessing Research to Enhance Quality of life», that my papers «Alternative HDI thresholds for maximum income demonstrate significance for policy advice» and «Climate imaginaries and the contested future of economic growth» have been accepted for oral presentation. The conference will take place at University of Kentucky in Lexington, Kentucky (USA), August 11–14th.

#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.

HDRO removes Kahnemann & Deaton reference after facing criticism for justification of maximum income threshold in HDI

The Human Development Report Office (HDRO) in New York, which is part of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), has made a change in the technical notes for the human development report and the accompanying Human development index (HDI). For the 2021/22 report (and in the preceding years), the maximum limit for income was justified by reference to a paper by Kahnemann and Deaton:

The maximum is set at $75,000 per capita. Kahneman and Deaton (2010)* have shown that there is virtually no gain in human development and wellbeing from annual income above $75,000 per capita. 

* High income improves evaluation of life but not emotional well-being 

In the summer of 2022, I pointed out to the Chief statistician at the HDRO that this justification is wrong and misleading on several accounts, since the claims made in the technical notes were not supported by claims made in Kahneman and Deaton´s article. The chief statistician acknowledged that I was correct. My criticism was repeated in an invited talk I gave in the HDRO Seminar (from a distance, digitally) on March 21st 2023.

In the technical notes for the 2023/24 report, it now says, with no reference:

"The maximum is set at $75,000 per capita so that additional income above the maximum does not directly contribute to a country’s HDI value or improve its ranking."

While the HDRO has in this way removed an erronous justification for the maximum income threshold, the threshold now stands without any justification whatsoever.

300+ more tweets about my article "Wasted GDP in the USA" the last day

My paper "Wasted GDP in the USA" has according to Altmetric now been shared in 876 tweets by a total of 802 Twitter users, with a potential reach in terms of followers of 2,3 million. This results in an Online attention score of 566, which is +325 since yesterday. 334 more Twitter users have shared the article since yesterday.

This is my Twitter profile.

#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.

#19,5

Today I have had a writing day, mostly devoted to revising my Anthology article for Atlantic Economic Journal, "The HDI´s maximum limit for income is unfounded", with some 100 words added net, and the article resubmitted.

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

I have belatedly found information to the effect that Atlantic Economic Journal has asked for major revisions of my brief article "The HDI´s maximum limit for income is unfounded". Revisions are due by next Monday.

#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.

Philosophy business - 2019

2019 was a modest year for my philosophy business: 890 NOK in income and 1.391 NOK in expenses - though I also had 10.000 NOK in accounts receivable (money owed to me after 2 public lectures held in 2019 at a zookeeper conference). Profit margin for the year was thus -56%.

"Future of growth" paper submitted to First WID.world Conference

I have submitted my published paper "The statistician´s guide to Utopia: The future of growth" (click to download PDF) to the organizers of "First WID.world Conference", arranged by Paris School of Economics (Paris, December 14-15th 2017).