Beyond GDP: Why Freedom is Key to True Development

Beyond GDP: Why Freedom is Key to True Development

RAHUL RAMYA

07.94.2024

PATNA, BIHAR, INDIA

In today's environment of strong nationalism and jingoism, most of us fail to grasp the reality of our daily lives. We are swayed by claims of high GDP figures and pronouncements of being the world's fifth largest economy, soon to surpass Germany and Japan. We are convinced to be proud of these achievements and discouraged from complaining about our own economic status compared to the national GDP, which is touted to be around 8%. This suppression of critical questioning reveals two things. Firstly, we lack the freedom to evaluate data on national growth. Secondly, we are locked in a situation where questioning our development is impossible. We are forced to accept the narrative of increasing wealth without being allowed to assess it ourselves.

Limiting freedom has a profound effect on how we understand development. This lack of freedom has several limiting consequences:

We are not allowed to evaluate our own progress.

We are forced to believe the official narrative without any examination.

We are not free to choose our own lives but are compelled to follow the path dictated by authorities.

Our limitations are glaring when we are made to live lives dictated by others and believe we are becoming richer under their guidance.

We are prevented from exploring and questioning the conditions of our daily lives—education, healthcare, sanitation, nutrition, climate and environment, jobs, and professions.

In simpler terms, without freedom, people are forced to live as instructed despite rising GDP. Have we considered the significance of rising GDP data for those who remain jobless? This could be due to a lack of opportunities, their own circumstances (poverty, education, minority status, gender, or LGBTQ+ identity). The lack of freedom at personal and societal levels forces people to live miserably despite claims of wealth creation and rising GDP. Not everyone has equal opportunities to benefit from the economic growth. Freedom to avail oneself of opportunities implies having the capabilities to enjoy them. Otherwise, the official position might be that people have ample freedom to achieve what they want, and if they fail, it's their fault. The reality is, people lack the opportunity to develop the capabilities needed to enjoy the freedom of opportunity to raise their living standards. For example, a super-specialty hospital alone doesn't suffice for the healthcare needs of the underprivileged. They need financial means to access care, financial assistance from authorities, or equally good alternative options. Only then can they truly avail themselves of their constitutional right to life. Therefore, having constitutional provisions and hospitals doesn't guarantee good health unless people have ample opportunities to equip themselves with the required capabilities.

Hence, the question arises: If GDP is rising but people can't reap the benefits due to a lack of education, healthcare, or sanitation, who truly benefits from this growth? Here, the issue of inequality creeps in. The answer suggests that the benefits of rising GDP go to those who are more capable and have more freedom to improve their capabilities. Those left behind remain dependent on official welfare schemes. This perpetuates inequality in society. Thus, lack of freedom directly impacts our unequal status.

The realization of a goal depends on both the freedom to achieve the capability to reach that goal and the actual achievement itself. But this is only half the story. The other half starts with the freedom to have a certain awareness, values, and goals themselves. Only if people have the freedom to be aware and articulate their views and values can they set goals for themselves. Otherwise, they are forced to adopt the official narrative of choice of goals as their own, regardless of their capabilities. In such a situation, no one can question their own hardships compared to the better living conditions of the wealthy. This situation not only perpetuates inequality but also makes people feel fatalistic and pessimistic, which is detrimental to the overall psychological health of society.