What are the reasons for our society’s growing need for figures? When does it make sense to rely on figures for political decision making?nnThe study deals with this type of questions, analysing the strengths and weaknesses of indicators for identifying and influencing social developments. The use of indicators in the educational system and in the field of sustainability has been explored extensively. Moreover, the study defines conditions that need to be met for a successful use of indicators and formulates concluding, relevant recommenda.