(66){{U}}GNP becomes an obsolete measure of progress in a society striving to meet people's needs as efficient as possible and with the least damage to the environment{{/U}}. (67) {{U}}What counts are not growth in output, but the quality of services rendered{{/U}}. (68) {{U}}Bicycles and light rail, for instance, are less resource intensive forms of transportation as automobiles are, and contribute less to GNP{{/U}}. (69) But a shift to mass transit and cycling for most passenger trips would enhance urban life by eliminating traffic jams, reducing smog, and make cities safer for pedestrians. (70) {{U}}GDP would go up, but overall well-being would increase{{/U}}--underscoring the need for new indicators of progress.
(71) {{U}}Likewise, investing in water-efficient applicants and irrigation systems in-stead of building more dams and diversion canals would meet water needs with less harm for to the environment{{/U}}. (72) {{U}}Since massive water projects consume resources than efficiency investments do{{/U}}, GNP would tend to decline. (73) {{U}}But quality of living would improve{{/U}}. (74) {{U}}It becomes clearly that striving to boost GNP is often inappropriate and counterproductive{{/U}}. (75) {{U}}As ecologist and philosopher Garrett Hardin puts them{{/U}}. "For a statesman to try to maximize the GNP is about as sensible as for a composer of music to try to maximize the number of notes in symphony."