Changes in the wealth of nations matter because they reflect the change in countries' assets that underpin future income. Countries regularly track GDP as an indicator of their economic progress, but not wealth, and national wealth has a more direct and long-term impact on people's lives.
This research paper provides provides the most comprehensive accounting of the wealth of nations, an in-depth analysis of wealth and pathways to build wealth for the future.
The paper – and the accompanying global database – firmly establishes comprehensive wealth as a measure of sustainability and a key component of country analytics. It expands the coverage of wealth accounts and improves understanding of all assets, notably, natural capital.