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RESEARCH ARTICLE: GPI Island Style: Localizing the Genuine Progress Indicator to Hawaii

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  12 September 2014

Regina Ostergaard-Klem  and
Kirsten L.L. Oleson
Regina Ostergaard-Klem*
Affiliation:
Associate Professor of Environmental Science, College of Natural and Computational Sciences, Hawaii Pacific University, Honolulu, Hawaii. Assistant Professor of Ecological Economics, Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Management, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, Hawaii.
Kirsten L.L. Oleson
Affiliation:
Associate Professor of Environmental Science, College of Natural and Computational Sciences, Hawaii Pacific University, Honolulu, Hawaii. Assistant Professor of Ecological Economics, Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Management, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, Hawaii.
*
Address correspondence to: Regina Ostergaard-Klem, College of Natural and Computational Sciences, Hawaii Pacific University, 45-045 Kamehameha Highway, Kaneohe, HI 96744; (phone) 808-566-2492; (fax) 808-236-5880; (e-mail) rostergaardklem@hpu.edu.
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Abstract

Applying the Genuine Progress Indicator (GPI) to an island setting offers insight into whether and how standardization of subnational GPI models can adequately capture important local conditions and inform local policy. We argue in favor of localization and against scaling down national data and transferring valuation studies to Hawaii because of the state’s unique setting. To localize GPI to our context, we suggest (a) omitting some indicators that are not applicable to Hawaii; (b) expanding and discretizing the list of indicators to other important economic, environmental, and social changes; and (c) amending existing indicators to better reflect their contribution to Hawaii’s welfare. This would involve (a) improving local data on economic, social, and environmental changes; (b) building new indicators through a participatory process; and (c) conducting local valuation studies that accurately reflect the social value of the changes.

Environmental Practice 16: 1–12 (2014)

Type
Features
Information
Environmental Practice , Volume 16 , Issue 3 , September 2014 , pp. 182 - 193
Copyright
© National Association of Environmental Professionals 2014 

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