That is the title of this this Nicholas Kristof op ed in today's New York Times
It examines the result of the Social Progress Index, which is
a brainchild of Michael E. Porter, the eminent Harvard business professor who earlier helped develop the Global Competitiveness Report. Porter is a Republican whose work, until now, has focused on economic metrics.Porter told Kristof
that he became increasingly aware that social factors support economic growth: tax policy and regulations affect economic prospects, but so do schooling, health and a society’s inclusiveness.Porter and his team spent two years examining lots of data
reflecting suicide, property rights, school attendance, attitudes toward immigrants and minorities, opportunity for women, religious freedom, nutrition, electrification and much more.For some of the results please continue beneath the fold.
The index is based on three distinct themes: Human Needs, Foundations of Wellbeing, and Opportunity. Because of how each theme is calculated, using four dimensions,