text: 36 7. For an indicator to point out something else there are at least two prerequisites to be fulfilled.· First, there should be a well established agreement that something points out something else. For example, the term economic development is a daily word widely used, but there is as yet no agreed definition of economic development, except perhaps economic growth. Health status is another example. Although the World Health Organization and others have attempted to define health, there is as yet no definition adequate for indicating health which satisfies everyone. 8. Second, even if there exists an accepted theory, a reader or a user of an indicator must be able to perceive what that indicator is supposed to point out. The capability completely to understand an indicator could not be, in many cases, expected of a policy-mak~r, a decision­ maker or a non-expert. The lack of confirmed theories further compli­ cates the cognitive process and results in misunderstanding and, some­ times, an unwarranted criticism of an indicator. 9. The adjective "social" is another source of misunderstanding in the common usage of the term. An appropriate meaning of the adjective "social" is not one contrasting to the adjective "economic" but it is rather a broad definition which includes economics as a branch of social sciences. Therefore, a system of social indicators could include many relevant economic indicators as well as the indicators on population, manpower, health, housing, environment, public saf~ty, family life, leisure, and other areas of human concern. Academic definition 10. When a term is used in academic circles, it usually has a specific definition which is commonly accepted. Although there has been a so-called "social indicators movement" throughout the world since the 1960s, the definition of social indicators is still in the process of being 
analysis: The text discusses the concept of indicators and their usage in various fields. It highlights the importance of established agreements and understanding in the use of indicators. The text also touches on the complexity of defining social indicators, which encompasses multiple areas of human concern. Based on this analysis, it appears that the text is more focused on the social sciences and the use of indicators in policy-making and decision-making.