Measuring sustainability: Statistics for long-term policy choices
Abstract
An important feature of the updated System of National Accounts (SNA) and the updated Balance of Payments and International Investment Position Manual (BPM) frameworks relates to the measurement of sustainability, supporting long-term policy decisions. The new statistical guidance, together with the System of Environmental-Economic Accounting (SEEA), enhances the ability to track the accumulation and use of a more broadly defined set of capital assets. By broadening the scope of macroeconomic statistics to include sustainability dimensions, the updated frameworks provide policymakers with better tools to manage risks, evaluate policy trade-offs, and align short-term decisions with long-term economic objectives.
Fields of Study & Subjects
Sustainable Development and Environmental Policy
Sustainability and Ecological Systems Analysis
Environmental Impact and Sustainability
Publication details
- Journal / source
- Statistical Journal of the IAOS
- Volume
- 42
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 14–26
- Publication date
- 1 March 2026
- Language
- EN