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The Human Development Index (And More). IB SL. Key Questions. What is it and what does it do? Is it more accurate than using GDP as an indicator of development? How? What does it show/not show and how useful is it to show how developed countries are?. Human Development Index.
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Key Questions... • What is it and what does it do? • Is it more accurate than using GDP as an indicator of development? How? • What does it show/not show and how useful is it to show how developed countries are?
Human Development Index (HDI) • HDI – A socio-economic measure • Focus on three dimensions of human welfare: • Longevity – Life expectancy • Knowledge – Access to education, literacy rates • Standard of living – GDP per capita: Purchasing Power Parity (PPP)
Human Development Index • Used by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to measure development. • HDI is measured by combining the following three indicators: • Life expectancy. • Education levels. • Income per person.
Human Development Index (HDI) Coloured world map indicating Human Development Index (as of 2003)
Other Indicators Of Development • GDP. • Infant Mortality. • Birth Rate. • Death Rate. • Literacy Rate. • Human Suffering Index. • How do each of these indicators help to show how developed countries are? • What are the advantages and disadvantages of using each as an indicator of development? • What do they not tell us about?
GDP Advantages Disadvantages Can hide inequalities as it does not show the distribution of wealth. Can be manipulated by governments who want to appear poor to collect more aid. Does not take into account subsistence or informal economies which are very important in less developed countries. • A useful figure for comparing countries. • Often used to rank countries to establish a fair system of aid payments. • Is a good indicator of the state of the economy and provision of services. • Fairly easy to calculate from official government figures.
Infant Mortality Advantages Disadvantages Hard to get an accurate figure as many births in the less developed countries would be un-registered. Evidence from some countries that the level of enfant mortality is well above that disclosed. High infant mortality could be a result of social or political factors. For example in China the figure would be very high because of the countries one child policy. • Indicates quality of health care, water quality, food supply. • Very easy indicator to understand. • Focuses on one of the most significant aspects of development.
Birth Rate Advantages Disadvantages Can be affected by population policies such as China's one child policy. Figures in less developed countries not necessarily accurate. • Clear indicator of a countries level of development. • Can be used for predicting the future situation and planning accordingly.
Death Rate Advantages Disadvantages Does not actually tell us what is responsible for the high death rate. For example a high death rate could be a result of a natural disaster not poor health care. Very difficult to get accurate figure from the less developed world. • Indicates level of health care provision, water quality, sanitation, and living conditions. • An easy to use indicator.
Literacy Rate Advantages Disadvantages Takes no notice of other skills the people may have which are equally valuable - for example a good understanding of farming techniques. When used on its own doesn't tell us whether the figure is a consequence of too few schools or the fact that children are having to work. • Indicates the amount of education on offer. • Shows how many children could/couldn't attend school.
Human Suffering Index • A country is ranked from 0 to 10 for each of the following indicators (0= V.good, 10=V. bad) • Life expectancy. • Daily calorie supply. • Access to clean water. • Per capital income. • Civil rights. • Political freedom. • Inflation. • Communications. • Percentage in secondary school. • Immunisation of infants.
