(66)GNP becomes an obsolete measure of progress in a
society striving to meet people’s needs as efficient as possible and with the
least damage to the environment. (67) What counts are not growth in
output, but the quality of services rendered. (68) Bicycles and light
rail, for instance, are less resource intensive forms of transportation as
automobiles are, and contribute less to GNP. (69) But a shift to mass
transit and cycling for most passenger trips would enhance urban life by
eliminating traffic jams, reducing smog, and make cities safer for pedestrians.
(70) GDP would go up, but overall well-being would increase--underscoring
the need for new indicators of progress. (71) Likewise,
investing in water-efficient applicants and irrigation systems in-stead of
building more dams and diversion canals would meet water needs with less harm
for to the environment. (72) Since massive water projects consume
resources than efficiency investments do, GNP would tend to decline. (73)
But quality of living would improve. (74) It becomes clearly that
striving to boost GNP is often inappropriate and counterproductive. (75)
As ecologist and philosopher Garrett Hardin puts them. "For a statesman
to try to maximize the GNP is about as sensible as for a composer of music to
try to maximize the number of notes in symphony."