People have different views about how governments should measure their countries’ progress. While economic progress is of course essential, I agree with those who believe that other measures of progress are just as important.
There are three key reasons why economic growth is seen as a fundamental goal for countries. Firstly, a healthy economy results in job creation, a high level of employment, and better salaries for all citizens. Secondly, economic progress ensures that more money is available for governments to spend on infrastructure and public services. For example, a government with higher revenues can invest in the country's transport network, its education system and its hospitals. Finally, a strong economy can help a country’s standing on the global stage, in terms of its political influence and trading power.
However, I would argue that various other forms of progress are just as significant as the economic factors mentioned above. In particular, we should consider the area of social justice, human rights, equality and democracy itself. For example, the treatment of minority groups is often seen as a reflection of the moral standards and level of development of a society. Perhaps another key consideration when judging the progress of a modern country should be how well that country protects the natural environment, and whether it is moving towards environmental sustainability. Alternatively, the success of a nation could be measured by looking at the health, well-being and happiness of its residents.
In conclusion, the economy is obviously a key marker of a country’s success, but social, environmental and health criteria are equally significant. 
 People
 have  
different
 views about how  
governments
 should measure their  
countries’
  progress
. While  
economic
  progress
 is  
of course
 essential, I  
agree
 with those who believe that other measures of  
progress
 are  
just
 as  
important
.
There are three key reasons why  
economic
 growth is  
seen
 as a fundamental goal for  
countries
.  
Firstly
, a healthy economy results in job creation, a high level of employment, and better salaries for all citizens.  
Secondly
,  
economic
  progress
 ensures that more money is available for  
governments
 to spend on infrastructure and public services.  
For example
, a  
government
 with higher revenues can invest in the country's transport network, its education system and its hospitals.  
Finally
, a strong economy can  
help
 a  
country’s
 standing on the global stage, in terms of its political influence and trading power. 
However
, I would argue that various other forms of  
progress
 are  
just
 as significant as the  
economic
 factors mentioned above.  
In particular
, we should consider the area of social justice, human rights, equality and democracy itself.  
For example
, the treatment of minority groups is  
often
  seen
 as a reflection of the moral standards and level of development of a society. Perhaps another key consideration when judging the  
progress
 of a modern  
country
 should be how well that  
country
 protects the natural environment, and whether it is moving towards environmental sustainability.  
Alternatively
, the success of a nation could  
be measured
 by looking at the health, well-being and happiness of its residents. 
In conclusion
, the economy is  
obviously
 a key marker of a  
country’s
 success,  
but
 social, environmental and health criteria are  
equally
 significant.