I think mean something like "GDP reduces people to *financial* units", because humans are economic units, but economics is much broader than monetary transactions.

In principle, happiness is a better metric of well-being, but there are even more methodological issues with happiness research than conventional economic analysis.

Undisciplined

econ

GDP is a Poor Measure of Economic Health

GDP reduces people to economic units as only their productivity is legitimatised as valid contributions to the society. But we all know that individuals shouldn’t base their self-worth on how much financial power they wield. 

Gross national happiness index, used in Bhutan, seems to cover a more comprehensive range of indicators that measure individuals’ worth. It attempts  more layered discussion of value: https://www.gnhcentrebhutan.org/gnh-happiness-index/