Courses / Politics & Society

Global Prosperity Beyond GDP

How can we think beyond GDP and build a prosperous economy that works better for people and the planet? Find out with this course.

Global Prosperity Beyond GDP

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Overview
Topics
Start dates
Requirements
Educators
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  • Duration 4 weeks
  • Weekly study 2 hours
  • Learn Free
  • Extra benefits From $59 Find out more

Discover how we can build a better world by focusing on prosperity, not wealth.

Economic growth is no longer the best indicator of broader success. By 2050, the global population will reach 10 billion and we may face environmental crisis. If we are to thrive, and not just survive, into the next century, we will need new tools and new ways of thinking to tackle the challenges of today and ensure a successful and prosperous future for everyone.

On this course you will look at other approaches to defining success for society, examining how we must aim for a broader notion of prosperity at both a personal and planetary level.

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What topics will you cover?

Week 1

  • The origins and future of GDP
  • The Democratic Deficit
  • The state as the guardian of prosperity

Week 2

  • Measuring prosperity and potential new approaches
  • Sites of exemplification
  • The work of the RELIEF Centre

Week 3

  • Frameworks of change
  • The Sustainable Development Goals
  • The 2050 Challenge
  • The Doughtnut development concept

Week 4

  • Business and the new economy
  • Business and climate change
  • Consumption habits
  • Making a difference

When would you like to start?

Most FutureLearn courses run multiple times. Every run of a course has a set start date but you can join it and work through it after it starts. Find out more

What will you achieve?

By the end of the course, you'll be able to...

  • Justify the need for a re-examination of the way we look at economics, and the role it plays in guiding society
  • Gain an understanding of the origin of GDP and the context from which it emerged
  • Gain an understanding of new approaches to measurement of success
  • Describe what a framework of change is, and why they exist
  • Recognise the potential for building a new economy that works better for people and the planet

Who is the course for?

The course is for anyone concerned with global issues and the unprecedented challenges of the 21st Century. It aims to inspire students, entrepreneurs, and citizens with a positive picture of what we are capable of with just a little bit of re-direction. No prior knowledge of the subject is needed.

Who will you learn with?

Henrietta L. Moore

Henrietta L. Moore

Hello! I'm Professor Henrietta Moore, Director of the Institute for Global Prosperity. My recent work has focussed on the notion of global sustainable and prosperous futures.

Who developed the course?

UCL (University College London)

UCL was founded in 1826. It was the first English university established after Oxford and Cambridge, and the first to open up university education to those previously excluded from it.

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