Congressionally mandated programs and policies cannot be effectively implemented, nor can related research be undertaken with existing data and indicators of development. Gross National Product (GNP), as a measure of development, has some shortcomings and social indicators, as a supplement to GNP, are not adequate for measuring progress of countries in achieving development objectives as mandated by Congress. A new set of indicators, termed "distributive indicators," need to be developed and related data collected by international agencies.