But its difficult to assess this. Most central planners emphasise intangible factors anyway. Going head-to-head on straight GDP almost never happens. Social outcomes and whatnot are usually stressed and in those (usually the access to material ones) they usually outperform capitalism. (In the long run generally not.) Its probably not unfair to claim a victory in absolute growth terms if the other side habitually yields the field. But even so, it pays to be wary of arriving at conclusions ahead of facts. Its always nice to polish your argument anyway through debates. Even if you lose the first few times.