That’s why he takes his solitary lamp and trudge down the dark crooked forest paths
In search of silver and gold.
When fate anoints his journey with fortune
He chooses to be that generous king inviting
The slaves to whine and dine with him —
You smile the smile of an angel, they smile the smile of a vampire.
Pull their skin from their body
To see the heart harbouring a double-edge dagger.
But can we tell which lizard has a bellyache since they all lie prostate?
Since all faces wear laugher,
How can we tell which laughter is artificial?
Watch them blow the gentle breeze
And inject your tiny body like tse-tse fly,
And while bury you the pique of a thousand offences
To cuddle man with the gab of love,
Your innocent head drips blood
On the altar of raging grudges —
See why man is to his fellow, a fiendish friend.
Gratitude
Gratitude is, the smoke knowing the origin is fire,
Not amputating the hands that pulled
The lepper out of a miry clay;
It’s the estuary returning back to the river
After caressing the seashore.
Dig up the past let’s survey the present,
How long did the feverish bird shivered on the cage
Before freedom came knocking on the door?
If now the bird frolicks and scratches the face of the sky,
Does it pay homage to earth, the bedrock of heaven?
After thousand miles of futile race;
Of planting and harvesting nothing
How did the tongue send fervent honour
To all deft hands that dragged sorrow,
Stabbed and nailed it to the cross?
When flourishing like Cedar planted
By the flowing brook of Lebanon
Be not as foolish as egg challenging the rock to a duel.
But beat the drum of honour
To drive home song of gratitude
To venerate all who greased your ship to sail.
Ajah Israel Chukwudi is a poet whose pen sails boisterously like a barbed arrow exhuming moral decadence and correcting the anomalies bedeviling the society. His poetic works is a like a moving train that plies every aspect of human life. He’s a law graduate from Ebonyi state University, Abakaliki Ebonyi state, Nigeria.
Beyond GDP: Rethinking Economic Growth and Human Well-Being in the Modern World
Abstract
Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is one of the most widely used indicators for measuring a country’s economic performance. However, economic growth does not always guarantee higher living standards, social equality, or environmental sustainability. This article examines the importance of GDP, its limitations, and the need for a broader approach to measuring economic development. It argues that governments should consider not only the quantity of goods and services produced but also the quality of life, income distribution, environmental protection, and long-term economic stability. A more comprehensive understanding of development can help countries create economies that are both productive and sustainable.
Keywords: Gross Domestic Product, economic growth, sustainable development, income inequality, human well-being, economic policy.
1. Introduction
Economic growth has long been considered one of the main objectives of national economic policy. Governments around the world attempt to increase production, attract investment, develop industries, and improve international competitiveness. Gross Domestic Product (GDP) has become a central indicator in evaluating the success of these efforts.
GDP measures the monetary value of all final goods and services produced within a country’s borders during a specific period. An increase in GDP generally indicates that economic activity is expanding. However, a fundamental question remains: does a growing economy always lead to a better life for its citizens?
Although GDP provides valuable information about economic performance, it cannot fully explain the social and environmental consequences of economic activity. A country may experience rapid economic growth while facing rising inequality, environmental degradation, or limited access to essential public services. Therefore, economic success should be evaluated through a broader perspective.
2. The Role of GDP in Economic Development
GDP plays a significant role in modern economic analysis. It enables governments, investors, researchers, and international organizations to assess economic performance and identify changes in production over time.
First, GDP growth can encourage business expansion. When demand increases, companies may invest in new technologies, establish additional production facilities, and employ more workers. These activities can contribute to higher incomes and increased employment opportunities.
Second, GDP provides information for economic policymaking. Governments use GDP data to evaluate economic trends, plan public expenditure, and develop strategies for maintaining stability. Real GDP is particularly useful because it adjusts for price changes and provides a more accurate measure of changes in production.
Third, GDP facilitates comparisons between economies. When combined with population data, GDP per capita provides an estimate of average economic output per person. Nevertheless, GDP per capita is an average and does not reveal how income is distributed across society.
Thus, GDP remains an essential instrument for understanding economic activity, but it should not be treated as a complete measure of national prosperity.
3. The Limitations of GDP as a Measure of Prosperity
One of the main limitations of GDP is its inability to measure income inequality directly. An economy can generate substantial national income while the benefits of growth remain concentrated among a relatively small proportion of the population. In such circumstances, rising GDP may coexist with financial difficulties for many households.
Another limitation concerns environmental sustainability. Industrial production can increase GDP while simultaneously contributing to air pollution, water contamination, and the depletion of natural resources. If environmental damage is ignored, economic statistics may present an incomplete picture of the true costs of development.
Furthermore, GDP does not fully capture unpaid activities such as household work and informal caregiving. These activities contribute significantly to social well-being, even though they are generally not included in GDP when performed without market payment.
Finally, GDP does not directly measure health, education quality, personal security, or life satisfaction. These factors influence people’s opportunities and their ability to benefit from economic progress.
Consequently, an economy should not be considered successful solely because its output is increasing. Sustainable prosperity requires improvements in both material conditions and the broader quality of life.
4. The Relationship Between Economic Growth and Human Well-Being
Economic growth and human well-being are closely connected, but the relationship between them is not automatic. Higher production can provide governments with additional resources to finance education, healthcare, transport infrastructure, and social protection. It can also create employment opportunities and support technological progress.
However, the final outcome depends on how these resources are distributed and used. If economic growth does not generate sufficient employment or improve access to essential services, its benefits may remain limited for large sections of society.
For example, two countries with similar GDP per capita may have different levels of educational opportunity, healthcare accessibility, and income inequality. This demonstrates why economic development should be assessed using multiple indicators rather than a single numerical measure.
A comprehensive approach should combine GDP statistics with indicators such as poverty rates, employment levels, life expectancy, educational attainment, and environmental quality. Together, these measures provide a more balanced understanding of national progress.
5. Towards Sustainable and Inclusive Economic Growth
The limitations of GDP highlight the importance of sustainable and inclusive economic policies. Sustainable development seeks to meet present needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.
Governments can support this objective by investing in renewable energy, improving the efficiency of resource use, strengthening education systems, and encouraging innovation. Such policies can support productivity while reducing environmental costs.
Inclusive growth is equally important. Economic policies should create opportunities for different groups in society to participate in and benefit from economic activity. This includes improving access to quality education, supporting small businesses, developing workforce skills, and reducing unnecessary barriers to employment.
For developing economies, including Uzbekistan, these issues are particularly relevant. Economic diversification, investment in human capital, digital transformation, and the efficient use of natural resources can contribute to stronger long-term development. However, the effectiveness of these measures should be evaluated using reliable national statistics and measurable outcomes.
Ultimately, the objective of economic policy should not simply be to produce more, but to create conditions in which economic progress translates into meaningful and lasting improvements in people’s lives.
Conclusion
Gross Domestic Product remains one of the most important indicators of economic performance, providing essential information about production, growth, and changes in economic activity. Nevertheless, its limitations demonstrate that economic growth alone cannot fully represent national prosperity.
A comprehensive assessment of development should consider income distribution, employment, education, healthcare, environmental sustainability, and human well-being alongside GDP. By adopting a broader approach to economic measurement, governments can design policies that promote not only higher output but also a fairer, healthier, and more sustainable society.
In the long run, the true success of an economy should be measured not only by how much a country produces, but also by how effectively that production improves the lives of its people.
I Am Not Who Everyone Sees… “Seeing a person is one thing; feeling their soul is another…” Sometimes, people think we are happy because we smile, indifferent because we remain silent, and strong because we endure everything. They see how we are today, but they know nothing about the sleepless nights, the thoughts that consume us, or the battles we have fought within ourselves to become who we are… I, too, am not the person everyone thinks I am.
I have words I have never been able to say to anyone, conversations I have never found the courage to begin, and words I have repeated a thousand times in my mind, only to choose silence in the end. Sometimes, a simple sentence stays in my thoughts all day long. Sometimes, the things that matter deeply to me seem insignificant in the eyes of others. And in those moments, I realize that everyone measures the world through the lens of their own heart.
Sometimes, I wish I could live without overthinking everything, without taking every little thing so personally. But it seems that a person cannot escape their own nature. Once the heart feels something, no matter how hard the mind tries to forget it, certain feelings remain right where they are.
Do you know what the most interesting thing is?
People often know only the side of you that you choose to show them. They know your smile, but not the reason behind it. They notice your silence, but not the countless words hidden within it. They say you have changed, but they never ask about the days that changed you.
Perhaps that is why the greatest world a person possesses lies within them. A world filled with conversations no one has ever heard, memories no one has ever witnessed, and feelings no one has ever truly understood. I no longer expect everyone to understand me. Because every heart has its own language, and every person carries a story of their own. There is only one thing I wish for: before judging someone, people would take even a moment to consider what that person might have been through.
After all, even the happiest-looking person may carry an unspoken sorrow, and even the quietest person may hold the grandest dreams.
And me…
I am not merely the smile you see, the words you hear, or the silence you observe. I am my mistakes from yesterday, my thoughts of today, my hopes for tomorrow, and the stories I have yet to share with anyone. Because a person can be seen with the eyes, but to truly understand them, one must look with the heart.
I am not who everyone sees. I am a whole universe that even I have not yet fully discovered…
Gulasal Jumayeva Gulasal Jumayeva was born on July 8, 2010. She is from Shofirkon district, Bukhara region, Uzbekistan. She is currently a 10th-grade student at Secondary School No. 30. She has big dreams, high ambitions, and a heart full of stories yet to be written, dreams waiting to come true, and words waiting to be spoken.
It was calm and maybe liked the warmth of the nearby light. That balcony had a view where
One could see the wondrous grounds
And the sense sea beyond. Magic. The
Things that make for mystery and
Open mystical lyrical areas and feelings,
Attitudes and spiritual awakenings.
To have a good lace and literature,
To have a soulmate and the southern
Worlds and salt water tides…
Playa Del Carmen Rosary
The bright days. Coffee shop. Outlet stands of wares…jewellery and clothing. One of the
First places had a magical and soulful rosary. What a find. I should have bought two. It has lasted all these years, colourful and Godly. A piece of that place and some help to pray and remember and strive for the divine, the eternal.
Clear Water Calm
The Ocean. See the sea. How could it be so clear and warm, healing, and fine? A great place in the world. Expatriates. Locals. Tourists. But room for everyone. The strong ancient sun. Calm. Everything is alive but still calm. An inner prayer is happening. There must be a spiritual light besides the worldly light, an enlightening light, a light that we look for again but that has also been with us since the beginning…
The journey of Indian poet Dr. Debabrata Maji is one woven with the artistry of words, the precision of engineering, and the resounding echoes of literary passion. His artistry, rooted in heartfelt emotions and intricate expressions, carved a distinct space within global literary landscapes. To mark with respect and honour his poems are frequently broadcasted from Colombia Ecos Poeticos Radio. Dr. Maji’s written legacy is solidified through thirteen remarkable poetry collections bearing coveted ISBN in Bengali versions – Kavita Bichitra, Kavita Darpan, Probad Angina, Premer Boikunth, Sonnet Bhaskar, Harano Bamsari, Smarane Manane, Vande Mataram, Barnera Rahasya and English versions are Dreamscape, The Peace, The Divine Glow and Maxims 500 are extensions of his soul. These titles bear witness to his unwavering commitment to poetry and the sheer brilliance of his literary craft. His story is not merely about accolades or achievements – it is about a man who dared to transform life’s melodies into poetry, leaving behind an enduring legacy that will inspire generations to come.
I Am Not Who Everyone Sees…
Gulasal Jumayeva 
