The document discusses how developing rigorous measurement systems for human, social, and natural capital could help bring those forms of capital to life in the same way that standardized measurement systems helped manufactured capital. It argues that tests, surveys and assessments currently used to measure human, social, and natural capital do not allow additivity, divisibility or mobility in the way that would be needed. Developing measurement approaches based on mathematical models like Rasch models could help create standardized metrics for human, social, and natural capital. This could help nurture living capital and maximize individual and collective potential, as standardized measurement has for manufactured capital and economic growth.

1. Data Standards for Living Human, Social, and Natural Capital Conference on Entrepreneurship and Human Rights Fordham University August 1-3, 2005 William P. Fisher, Jr., Ph.D. MetaMetrics, Inc. Durham, NC, USA

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12. The Question of Measurement

15. But are we forever doomed to existence with only dead forms of human, social, and natural capital? Perhaps not…. The Question of Measurement

16. The Question of Measurement

17. The Question of Measurement Measures from two sets of entirely different survey items, both with .90 reliability, measuring same Quality of Educational Services construct on same sample r = .93

18. The Question of Measurement Correlations among 11 calibrations of 8 similar items included on 4 clinical assessments of physical functioning: mean r = 0.93, mode = 0.98 Fisher, W. P., Jr. (1997). Physical disability construct convergence across instruments: Towards a universal metric. Journal of Outcome Measurement , 1 (2), 87-113.