This volume reconstructs the scholarly controversies surrounding the measurement of what is now called the Gross National Product (GNP). It reveals how much this debate changed the political communication around the world. Even in the mid-20th century all leading economists were against comparing the GNP of individual countries, whereas later such comparisons gained in importance. How did such a transformation come about? Daniel Speich Chassé describes the scientific discussions that took place on the topic of measuring the GNP. He shows the resulting changes in international political discourse and in the importance of this theme for world politics.