ABSTRACT
An overload of information hides significant data gaps and contradictory interpretations of data. There is agreement that poor countries are worse off than rich ones, which is not surprising. The flaws of most indicators and indices prevent a final conclusion on progress or failure in attaining and monitoring economic prosperity, environmental quality and socioeconomic development. Symptoms of market and policy failures still call for action. Valid advice might come from greened economic accounts, which provide objective indicators for combined environmental–economic policies. Beyond such accounting one has to rely on expert advice and political negotiation.
