Amplifying beyond-GDP indicator initiatives: a comparative analysis of eight national case studies

Amid growing dissatisfaction with gross domestic product (GDP) as a measure of progress, national beyond-GDP indicator initiatives (BGDP IIs) have proliferated. These initiatives seek to reorient policies by providing more holistic metrics for progress, grounded in principles of sustainability, equity, and quality of life. While considerable work has been done on their conceptual design and methodological robustness, far less is known about how these initiatives broaden and deepen their reach. This study addresses this gap by examining the processes through which such initiatives amplify (i.e., scale and embed through pathways that increase impact potential). Drawing on a comparative qualitative analysis of eight prominent national cases, we employ the concept of amplification to identify pathways through which initiatives scale within, out, and beyond their original scope. These pathways include legal mandates, institutional integration, and collaborative governance processes, which either enable or hinder the amplification of BGDP IIs. Importantly, the analysis frames indicator initiatives not as passive metrics but as active tools of transformation. The findings underscore both the transformative potential and the structural limitations of existing BGDP IIs, offering new insights into their role in advancing post-growth governance and reshaping conceptions of societal progress.