The growth dilemma or is growth necessary for stability?

In this review article, the author answers the question of whether growth is still so necessary for social and economic stability, or alternative measures of development should be sought and actively used. It is noted that the dynamics of GDP still remains the main applied measure of the progress of mankind, however, this indicator characterizes quantitative rather than qualitative living conditions that are relevant today. At the same time, at present, there is a growing demand for a fundamental change in the paradigm «all for growth», both from the position of an equitable distribution of the productive activities results and from the point of view of environmental sustainability. The author conducts a retrospective analysis of the evolution of indicators of socio-economic development and highlights a special place for the Genuine Progress Indicator. It is noted that within the framework of the approach to development that has been formed, the target function of maximizing growth rates, rather than sustainability, continues to dominate, and the growth dilemma is resolved in favor of quantitative indicators and to the detriment of the ecosystem. The author expects that during the qualitative transformation of the productive forces, which will be observed over the next decade, there should also be a transition from the gross domestic product to a fundamentally new indicator of development, and in this regard, the scientific community should intensify the discussion to reach a consensus on the contemporary measure of socio-economic progress.