Many governments think that economic progress is their most important goal. Some people,however, think that other types of progress are equally important for a country. Discuss both these views and give your own opinion. Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.

Most nations nowadays compete on economic

progress

to establish themselves as a developed

country

. Given

this

notion, many governments all around the globe have put economic metrics as their most important goal. Some people think that other types of

progress

such

as literacy and environmental state are

also

important, and we should equally focus on that. I strongly agree with the latter should be given the same priority with economic strides, and

this

essay will discuss both of these views. Currently, the competition among most countries is focused on trade, where gross domestic production is viewed as one of the main indicators. The reason behind

this

is most governments feel that employment rates and the success of enterprises in the

country

will help the

country

avoid recessions.

For example

, a downturn in the economy, as evidenced by the 2008 sub-prime crisis has caused a lot of citizens to struggle, and the overall

progress

to the nations is stunted.

Hence

, to avoid

this

situation, the government has placed a higher emphasis on economic

progress

above all else.

On the other hand

, some view that other types of

progress

are important too,

such

as in the areas of education and environment. Without significant

progress

in these areas, a nation will find it difficult to achieve sustainability.

For instance

, countries

such

as Japan and Singapore focus on these aspects and they are less impacted by an economic downturn. The strong education sector has helped produce high skilled labour, and early investments in green energy have reduced the reliance on fossil fuels, which prices soar in the wake of the recession.

Therefore

, we can see that other types of

progress

are needed apart from economic growth to ensure sustainability. To summarise,

although

economic is the main indicator to measure a

country

's status, education and environmental advancement are equally important to ensure long term sustainability. By now, all nations should re-examine their current status in those areas, and start an effort to ensure they can survive the

next

recession.