--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The inventor of GDP cautioned against…" description: "\"“The inventor of GDP cautioned against including in its calculation expenditure for the military, advertising, and the financial sector,33 but his advi..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cec/rutger-bregman-2463_deaf-ears_the-inventor-of-gdp-cautioned-against-in_2747994.jpg" --- # The inventor of GDP cautioned against including in its… ![“The inventor of GDP cautioned against including in its calculation expenditure for the military, advertising, and the financial sector,33 but his advice fell on deaf ears. After World War II, Kuznets grew increasingly concerned about the monster he had created. “Distinctions must be kept in mind…” quote by Rutger Bregman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cec/rutger-bregman-2463_deaf-ears_the-inventor-of-gdp-cautioned-against-in_2747994.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cec/rutger-bregman-2463_deaf-ears_the-inventor-of-gdp-cautioned-against-in_2747994.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cec/rutger-bregman-2463_deaf-ears_the-inventor-of-gdp-cautioned-against-in_2747994.jpg) > ““The inventor of GDP cautioned against including in its calculation expenditure for the military, advertising, and the financial sector,33 but his advice fell on deaf ears. After World War II, Kuznets grew increasingly concerned about the monster he had created. “Distinctions must be kept in mind between quantity and quality of growth,” he wrote in 1962, “between costs and returns, and between the short and long run. Goals for more growth should specify more growth of what and for what.”” [Rutger Bregman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rutger-bregman/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Growth should be measured by quality and purpose, not just quantity; economic metrics must reflect true societal benefit. **In simple terms:** Growth must be meaningful, not just bigger. Key Takeaway Prioritize quality of growth. Themes economics growth quality policy ethics Mood critical thoughtful Type analytical policy‑oriented When to use this quote - government budgeting - business strategy - environmental planning Key Concepts GDP critique sustainable development Questions to Reflect On - What does quality growth look like for you? - How can policies balance quantity and quality? A Different Perspective Focusing on quality may conflict with short‑term profit goals. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Deaf ears](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deaf-ears/) [Gdp Cautioned](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gdp-cautioned-3078294/) [Growth Wrote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/growth-wrote-3078296/) [Kuznets](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kuznets-2158450/) [Kuznets Grew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kuznets-grew-3078295/) [Long run](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long-run/) [Specify Growth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/specify-growth-3078297/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) [World war](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world-war/) [World war ii](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world-war-ii/) ## Related quotes > [“For far too long, economists have neglected the distribution of wealth, partly because of Kuznets’s optimistic conclusions and partly because of the profession’s undue…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-piketty/for-far-too-long-economists-have-neglected-the-distribution-of-wealth/) [Thomas Piketty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-piketty/) > [There is an old belief that solving environmental problems can only be achieved by first building enough economic wealth so we can 'afford to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johan-rockstrom/there-is-an-old-belief-that-solving-environmental-problems-can-only/) [Johan Rockstrom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johan-rockstrom/) > [“The sharp reduction in income inequality that we observe in almost all the rich countries between 1914 and 1945 was due above all to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-piketty/the-sharp-reduction-in-income-inequality-that-we-observe-in-almost/) [Thomas Piketty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-piketty/) > [America has a broken spirit, that the people that are saying, "Please help me, please let me keep my home, please let me keep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suze-orman/america-has-a-broken-spirit-that-the-people-that-are-saying-please/) [Suze Orman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suze-orman/) > [Moral justification is a powerful disengagement mechanism. Destructive conduct is made personally and socially acceptable by portraying it in the service of moral ends.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-bandura/moral-justification-is-a-powerful-disengagement-mechanism-destructive/) [Albert Bandura](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-bandura/) > [“All compliments are not created equal. Some may change the trajectory of a person’s life, while others fall on deaf ears. Is it well…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-c-young/all-compliments-are-not-created-equal-some-may-change-the-trajectory/) [Susan C. Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-c-young/) > [“Is there sound, he wondered, without reception? Do you hear the shot that gets you? How big, in fact, was the Big Bang? Do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-o-brien/is-there-sound-he-wondered-without-reception-do-you-hear-the-shot/) [Tim O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-o-brien/) > [You read statistics all the time like, "13 million people are at risk because of the severe drought in East Africa," but I think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scarlett-johansson/you-read-statistics-all-the-time-like-13-million-people-are-at-risk/) [Scarlett Johansson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scarlett-johansson/) > [Look at you, you miserable fool. Get off your knees, your prayers fall upon deaf ears. Gods turned his back on you, heavens gates…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alesana/look-at-you-you-miserable-fool-get-off-your-knees-your-prayers-fall/) [Alesana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alesana/) > [Deep within the shadows I'm the hungry wolf you fear But I can see that you're the only evil creature here Before you came…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omnia/deep-within-the-shadows-i-m-the-hungry-wolf-you-fear-but-i-can-see/) [Omnia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omnia/) > [I ask you: turn a deaf ear to the special interests. Let politics stand down for a while. don't waste anytime thinking about future…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-riley/i-ask-you-turn-a-deaf-ear-to-the-special-interests-let-politics-stand/) [Bob Riley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-riley/) > [There speaks the man of truly noble ways, Who will not listen to the words of praise. In modesty averse, and with deaf ears,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/there-speaks-the-man-of-truly-noble-ways-who-will-not-listen-to-the/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [You need to be able to communicate what you feel - good or bad. But when I feel things are falling on deaf ears,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirti-kulhari/you-need-to-be-able-to-communicate-what-you-feel-good-or-bad-but-when/) [Kirti Kulhari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirti-kulhari/) > [“God uses a multiplicity of ways to communicate with His people. Letters and numbers are just a fraction of the vehicles that God uses…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael/god-uses-a-multiplicity-of-ways-to-communicate-with-his-people/) [Michael](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael/) > [Who would have guessed that the shots heard 'round the world 225 years ago would fall on deaf ears in a nation now more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-malkin/who-would-have-guessed-that-the-shots-heard-round-the-world-225-years/) [Michelle Malkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-malkin/) ## More by Rutger Bregman > [“If all the developed countries would let in just 3% more immigrants, the world’s poor would have $305 billion more to spend, say scientists…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rutger-bregman/if-all-the-developed-countries-would-let-in-just-3-more-immigrants/) [Rutger Bregman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rutger-bregman/) > [“When Lehman Brothers collapsed on September 15, 2008, and inaugurated the biggest crisis since the 1930s, there were no real alternatives to hand. No…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rutger-bregman/when-lehman-brothers-collapsed-on-september-15-2008-and-inaugurated/) [Rutger Bregman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rutger-bregman/) > [I think one of the most important facts of basic income would be that it's not only a redistribution of income, but also of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rutger-bregman/i-think-one-of-the-most-important-facts-of-basic-income-would-be-that/) [Rutger Bregman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rutger-bregman/) > [The great thing about money is that people can use it to buy things they need instead of things self-appointed experts think they need.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rutger-bregman/the-great-thing-about-money-is-that-people-can-use-it-to-buy-things/) [Rutger Bregman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rutger-bregman/) > [“The idea that the GDP still serves as an accurate gauge of social welfare is one of the most widespread myths of our times.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rutger-bregman/the-idea-that-the-gdp-still-serves-as-an-accurate-gauge-of-social/) [Rutger Bregman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rutger-bregman/) > [Most of Mark Zuckerberg's income is just rent collected off the millions of picture and video posts that we give away daily for free.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rutger-bregman/most-of-mark-zuckerberg-s-income-is-just-rent-collected-off-the/) [Rutger Bregman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rutger-bregman/) > [“To calculate the GDP, numerous data points have to be linked together and hundreds of wholly subjective choices made regarding what to count and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rutger-bregman/to-calculate-the-gdp-numerous-data-points-have-to-be-linked-together/) [Rutger Bregman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rutger-bregman/) > [“Countless studies have shown that people who work less are more satisfied with their lives.37 In a recent poll conducted among working women, German…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rutger-bregman/countless-studies-have-shown-that-people-who-work-less-are-more/) [Rutger Bregman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rutger-bregman/) > [“Precisely when we should be shouldering the historic task of investing this rich, safe, and healthy existence with meaning, we’ve buried utopia instead. There’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rutger-bregman/precisely-when-we-should-be-shouldering-the-historic-task-of/) [Rutger Bregman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rutger-bregman/) > [Believing in the good of humanity is a revolutionary act - it means that we don't need all those managers and CEO's, kings and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rutger-bregman/believing-in-the-good-of-humanity-is-a-revolutionary-act-it-means/) [Rutger Bregman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rutger-bregman/) > [Poor people aren't making dumb decisions because they are dumb, but because they're living in a context in which anyone would make dumb decisions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rutger-bregman/poor-people-aren-t-making-dumb-decisions-because-they-are-dumb-but/) [Rutger Bregman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rutger-bregman/) > [“The bottom line is that wealth can be concentrated somewhere, but that doesn’t also mean that’s where it’s being created. This is just as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rutger-bregman/the-bottom-line-is-that-wealth-can-be-concentrated-somewhere-but-that/) [Rutger Bregman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rutger-bregman/) > [“Recently, the International Monetary Fund published a report which revealed that too much inequality even inhibits economic growth.22 Perhaps the most fascinating finding, however,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rutger-bregman/recently-the-international-monetary-fund-published-a-report-which/) [Rutger Bregman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rutger-bregman/) > [“Not coincidentally, the countries with the shortest workweeks also have the largest number of volunteers and the most social capital.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rutger-bregman/not-coincidentally-the-countries-with-the-shortest-workweeks-also/) [Rutger Bregman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rutger-bregman/) > [It matters so much that from a very early age we encounter different kinds of different people, because that's what real life should be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rutger-bregman/it-matters-so-much-that-from-a-very-early-age-we-encounter-different/) [Rutger Bregman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rutger-bregman/) [Explore all 164 Rutger Bregman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rutger-bregman/) ## More Deaf ears quotes > [Who would have guessed that the shots heard 'round the world 225 years ago would fall on deaf ears in a nation now more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-malkin/who-would-have-guessed-that-the-shots-heard-round-the-world-225-years/) [Michelle Malkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-malkin/) > [“God uses a multiplicity of ways to communicate with His people. Letters and numbers are just a fraction of the vehicles that God uses…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael/god-uses-a-multiplicity-of-ways-to-communicate-with-his-people/) [Michael](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael/) > [You need to be able to communicate what you feel - good or bad. But when I feel things are falling on deaf ears,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirti-kulhari/you-need-to-be-able-to-communicate-what-you-feel-good-or-bad-but-when/) [Kirti Kulhari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirti-kulhari/) > [There speaks the man of truly noble ways, Who will not listen to the words of praise. In modesty averse, and with deaf ears,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/there-speaks-the-man-of-truly-noble-ways-who-will-not-listen-to-the/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [I ask you: turn a deaf ear to the special interests. Let politics stand down for a while. don't waste anytime thinking about future…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-riley/i-ask-you-turn-a-deaf-ear-to-the-special-interests-let-politics-stand/) [Bob Riley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-riley/) > [Deep within the shadows I'm the hungry wolf you fear But I can see that you're the only evil creature here Before you came…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omnia/deep-within-the-shadows-i-m-the-hungry-wolf-you-fear-but-i-can-see/) [Omnia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omnia/) > [Look at you, you miserable fool. Get off your knees, your prayers fall upon deaf ears. Gods turned his back on you, heavens gates…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alesana/look-at-you-you-miserable-fool-get-off-your-knees-your-prayers-fall/) [Alesana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alesana/) > [You read statistics all the time like, "13 million people are at risk because of the severe drought in East Africa," but I think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scarlett-johansson/you-read-statistics-all-the-time-like-13-million-people-are-at-risk/) [Scarlett Johansson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scarlett-johansson/) > [“Is there sound, he wondered, without reception? Do you hear the shot that gets you? How big, in fact, was the Big Bang? Do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-o-brien/is-there-sound-he-wondered-without-reception-do-you-hear-the-shot/) [Tim O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-o-brien/) > [“All compliments are not created equal. Some may change the trajectory of a person’s life, while others fall on deaf ears. Is it well…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-c-young/all-compliments-are-not-created-equal-some-may-change-the-trajectory/) [Susan C. Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-c-young/) > [Moral justification is a powerful disengagement mechanism. Destructive conduct is made personally and socially acceptable by portraying it in the service of moral ends.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-bandura/moral-justification-is-a-powerful-disengagement-mechanism-destructive/) [Albert Bandura](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-bandura/) > [America has a broken spirit, that the people that are saying, "Please help me, please let me keep my home, please let me keep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suze-orman/america-has-a-broken-spirit-that-the-people-that-are-saying-please/) [Suze Orman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suze-orman/) > [My view is that you cannot close your mind and say I don't want to listen to this or that. Because if you can't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-eckstine/my-view-is-that-you-cannot-close-your-mind-and-say-i-don-t-want-to/) [Billy Eckstine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-eckstine/) > [“Stupidity is a more dangerous enemy of the good than malice. One may protest against evil; it can be exposed and, if need be,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/stupidity-is-a-more-dangerous-enemy-of-the-good-than-malice-one-may/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [Consumers cannot think in abstractions. They cannot envision a new concept. They cannot predict their behavior. They can only compare against their current frame…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-j-silverstein/consumers-cannot-think-in-abstractions-they-cannot-envision-a-new/) [Michael J. Silverstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-j-silverstein/) [Browse all 59 Deaf ears quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deaf-ears/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“The inventor of GDP cautioned against including in its calculation expenditure for the military, advertising, and the financial sector,33 but his advice fell on deaf ears. After World War II, Kuznets grew increasingly concerned about the monster he had created. “Distinctions must be kept in mind between quantity and quality of growth,” he wrote in 1962, “between costs and returns, and between the short and long run. 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