What objective metric would you recommend they use, instead?
It takes less resources to remedy a failed over bridge. You’d have to have a basket of measurement like how we measure CPI - current approach is lazy.
The house takes just as long to build, but it's sturdier, longer lasting, better insulated, etc?
I am not saying it’s easy, but economics is full of complex measurements, financial derivatives, and god knows what. Maybe they should spend some effort measuring the real world.