Contributor(s): Professor Richard H Steckel | Measuring social performance is an important task in the social sciences, and the complexity of the problem has given rise to numerous approaches. In this lecture, Professor Steckel will discuss the use of anthropomorphic measures in this field, and explain the advantages of height as a measure of standard of living. Richard H Steckel is SBS Distinguished Professor of Economics, Anthropology and History at Ohio State University. The Space for Thought Lecture series celebrates the completion of the New Academic Building and is supported by the LSE Annual Fund.You can see a list of all the lectures in this series at Space for Thought Inaugural Lecture Series.