I can't believe how long this discussion about the GDP question has gone, La Bomba is defo right. I won't bother restating the formula that proves this as he has already done so a number of times, however consider, everyone agrees that living standards have increased the dispute is over whether real GDP has increased, but do you really think real GDP would have decreased if living standards went up..... I didn't think so. It is common knowlodge, even if you disregard the maths, that if living standards increase it needs to be accompanied by an increase in real GDP so the investment, improved services etc that undepins living stan increase, can be achieved.