New social indicators threaten EU

The EU Commission wants to develop new environmental and social indicators. Until now economic growth has been measured in gross domestic product (GDP). But the new indicators are not without danger, writes the conservative Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung: "The EU headquarters in Brussels hopes the new social indicators will also level differences between regions and 'social groups'. But in this way Brussels is subtly giving itself more authority in social policy and to engage in 'social engineering'. On the continent of diversity a project like this threatens to become sheer levelling. New social indicators could give a more nuanced picture of our societies. Like any statistic, however, in the hands of politicians they are susceptible to manipulation and abuse. And in addition they can lead to the idea that the state has blanket responsibility for the well-being of its citizens."

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