A shift in the way we identify economic success has its drawbacks.

This is according to the New Zealand Initiative, as Treasury develops a Living Standards Framework.

Senior research fellow Bryce Wilkinson says the framework factors in life expectancy and child mortality - instead of just GDP.

It's part of a Government plan to show how many children have been lifted out of poverty in next May's budget.

Mr Wilkinson told Mike Hosking that there's a risk the Government could emphasise the points it wants to.

"If you allow people to choose at will, amongst all those indicators, then you've got no sense of direction and anyone can justify anything," he said.

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