Why is GDP so important?
The only reason we have "recessions" is because of negative GDP.
Are there better KPI's?
Discussion
Should be a longer time frame GDP. Sometimes societies need to back off on consumption and invest instead. If this occurs over many years it will look bad using only quarterly GDP figures.
But why is growth important. Many of the things that make my life better don't show up in GDP.
For example, Spotify is a better experience for me, but it looks negative from the point of record companies and GDP!