Global Prosperity Beyond GDP (FutureLearn)

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.

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

Learning on this course

You can take this self-guided course and learn at your own pace. On every step of the course you can meet other learners, share your ideas and join in with active discussions in the comments.

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.