GDP (Gross Domestic Product)

A measure of economic production (and often standard of living) of a country. GDP calculates a nations total economic output of products and services. The GDP is problematic as a sustainability indicator because it considers the amount of money spent in a country in isolation, assuming more money spent means a healthier economy. Yet the activities generated by spending that money may or may not be contributing to harmful environmental or social factors which, in the long term, could be detrimental to the society.