Part 6/9:
In a critical discussion, Perkins argues for alternative measures to assess societal wellbeing that go beyond GDP, focusing instead on metrics such as nutrition, education, and access to basic resources like clean water. He critiques the prevailing systems that, in their pursuit of profit, continue to exacerbate inequality and environmental degradation.
He points to the historic tendency of powers to rebuild after destruction—where reconstruction leads to the appearance of growth without improving the lives of the affected communities. This approach has historically led to numerous cases where profit supersedes humanitarian concern.