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22Jan

The measure of progress: counting what really matters

Hosted by the School of Public Policy
In-person public event (Malaysia Auditorium, Centre Building)
Thursday 22 January 2026 6.30pm - 8pm

Join us for this talk about Diane Coyle’s latest book The Measure of Progress: Counting What Really Matters.

Professor Coyle argues that the way we measure the economy—developed in the 1940s—no longer fits today’s realities. The outdated framework underpinning economic statistics distorts how policymakers understand and respond to the digital economy. Coyle explains why statistics matter deeply, shaping decisions that affect freedom, justice, and everyday life. The metrics of growth were designed for a world of physical capital and demand management, not one driven by digital innovation, slowing living standards, and environmental constraints. She calls for a new framework for economic measurement—one that reflects modern challenges and enables the right kind of growth for the benefit of all.

Meet our speaker and chair

Diane Coyle is the Bennett Professor of Public Policy at the University of Cambridge. She is the author of Cogs and Monsters: What Economics Is and What It Should Be, GDP: A Brief but Affectionate History (both Princeton), and many other books.

Richard Davies is an economist and author. He teaches courses on economics and data science in the School of Public Policy at LSE. Richard is the Director of the UK’s Economics Observatory and the LSE’s Growth Co-Lab, a joint project with Harvard University providing advice to governments on inclusive growth. He is the author of Extreme Economies, and Making Sense of the Modern Economy.

More about this event

The LSE School of Public Policy (@LSEPublicPolicy) is an international community where ideas and practice meet. Our approach creates professionals with the ability to analyse, understand and resolve the challenges of contemporary governance.

Join us on campus or register to watch the event online at LSE Live. LSE Live is the home for our live streams, allowing you to tune in and join the global debate at LSE, wherever you are in the world. If you can't attend live, a video will be made available shortly afterwards on LSE's YouTube channel.

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