Tania Smith Taylor

Ms. Tania Smith Taylor

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Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

1Year (2026-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

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19 May 2026 in Sustainability
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Journal Article
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TTTania Smith Taylor
Tania Smith Taylor
Sabine U O'HaraSabine U O'Hara
Sabine U O'Hara
Yolandra PlummerYolandra Plummer
Yolandra Plummer
Over the past 50 years, researchers have produced a considerable body of work substantiating that gross domestic product (GDP) is not a measure of social welfare. In response, numerous measures, collectively known as Beyond GDP (BGDP) measures, have been developed to provide a more balanced assessment of the social, environmental, and economic impacts of economic activity on current and future generations. BGDP measures have gained the attention not only of academics, but also of government practitioners concerned with prevailing measures of national and regional progress that overrepresent narrow economic objectives and underrepresent sustainability objectives. Despite this widespread support for alternatives, few governments have made significant progress in implementing BGDP measures to inform public policy. Viewed through an operational lens, this study examines strategies used by two governments that have progressed in implementing BGDP measures. We analyze their strategies against five practical considerations: (1) alignment with mission, (2) fiscal and resources constraints, (3) communication and public messaging challenges, (4) challenges with political and public commitment, and (5) gaps in internal agency knowledge and training. These five considerations were identified as the five most prominent barriers to implementing BGDP measure based on a systematic review of the BGDP literature published over the past 50 years. We conclude that these two governments implemented actions that addressed key elements of these five barriers and succeeded in adopting BGDP measures. We conclude that others could emulate these successes to advance the broader adoption of BGDP measures.