FRESNO, CA — Following Grupo Frontera’s Saturday-night performance at the Save Mart Center, Fresno economic officials announced they were considering replacing several traditional quality-of-life indicators with a simpler regional measurement: Triste Pero Bien.
The group brought its Triste Pero Bien tour to Fresno Saturday evening.
Local economists said the phrase—which roughly captures the condition of being sad but nevertheless okay—may provide the most comprehensive description yet developed for life in the Central Valley.
“Unemployment doesn’t tell the whole story. Median household income doesn’t tell the whole story,” said one Fresno State economist. “But ask someone, ‘How’s everything going?’ and hear them say ‘Eh… triste, pero bien,’ and suddenly you have the entire regional economy.”
Researchers proposed a 100-point TPB Index incorporating housing costs, summer PG&E bills, commute times, air quality, taco availability, and whether one’s air conditioner made a concerning noise overnight.
A score of 100 would represent complete prosperity.
Fresno currently remains firmly classified as Bien, All Things Considered.
Concertgoers were unavailable for economic analysis because they were busy enjoying the show.
At press time, county officials were reportedly developing additional measurements including Más o Menos, Could Be Worse, and the highly respected Central Valley benchmark At Least We’re Not Bakersfield.