Human Development Index

<–2/”>a >Human Development is a process of enlarging people’s choices. The most critical ones are to lead a long and healthy life, to be educated and to enjoy a decent standard of living. Additional choices include political freedom, guaranteed Human Rights and self-respect.Human development has to be development of the people, by the people, for the people. Human development is about creating an Environment in which people can develop their full potential and lead productive, creative lives in accord with their needs and interests.

The first Human Development Report was published in 1990,States human development as a process of enlarging people’s choices and enhancing their capabilities. The process concerns the creation of an enabling environment in which people can develop their full potential and live productive and creative lives according with their needs, interests and own values. In this sense, human development paradigm promotes well-being in a Society.

The HDI was created to emphasize that people and their capabilities should be the ultimate criteria for assessing the development of a country, not economic Growth alone. The HDI can also be used to question national policy choices, asking how two countries with the same level of GNI per capita can end up with different human development outcomes. These contrasts can stimulate debate about government policy priorities.
The Human Development index (HDI) is a summary measure of Average achievement in key dimensions of human development: a long and healthy life, being knowledgeable and have a decent standard of living. The HDI is the geometric mean of normalized indices for each of the following three dimensions:-

a. A long and healthy life, as reflected in life expectancy at birth.

b. The acquisition of Education and knowledge, as reflected in the mean years of schooling (adjusted for out of school children) and Literacy rate (age 7 years and above).

c. Th e standard of living and command over Resources, as reflected in the monthly per capita expenditure adjusted for Inflation and inequality.

India’s human development index (HDI) ranking for 2015 puts India ranked as 131 out of 188 countries. Asia’s third largest economy is among a group of countries classed as “medium” in the list, as opposed to “low” in the 1990s, which is largely due to an increase in life expectancy and mean years of schooling in the past 25 years.

The following are the reasons to keep India at the bottom of human development

(a) rapid increase in Population

(b) large number of adult illiterates and low gross enrollment ratio

(d) inadequate government expenditure on education and Health,

(e) large proportion of under weight children as well as under nourished people

(f) very poor sanitation facilities and low access to essential life saving medicines.,

The Human Development Index (HDI) is a composite statistic of life expectancy, education, and per capita income indicators, which are used to rank countries into four tiers of human development. A country scores higher if it performs better on these indicators.

The HDI was developed by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and is published annually as part of the Human Development Report. The HDI is used to measure a country’s progress in improving the Quality Of Life for its citizens.

The HDI is calculated using the following formula:

HDI = (Life expectancy at birth Ã 0.25) + (Mean years of schooling Ã 0.25) + (Gross NATIONAL INCOME per capita (PPP) Ã 0.25)

The HDI is a valuable tool for measuring human development, but it has some limitations. One limitation is that it does not take into account inequality within a country. Another limitation is that it does not measure non-economic aspects of human development, such as political freedom and social Justice.

Despite its limitations, the HDI is a useful tool for measuring human development and for tracking progress over time. The HDI has been used to raise awareness of human development issues and to promote policies that can improve the quality of life for people around the world.

The following are the sub topics of the Human Development Index:

Life expectancy at birth

Life expectancy at birth is the average number of years that a newborn is expected to live if current mortality rates continue to apply. It is a measure of the overall health of a population and is influenced by a number of factors, including access to healthcare, Nutrition, and sanitation.

Mean years of schooling

Mean years of schooling is the average number of years of schooling that a person has completed. It is a measure of the level of education in a population and is influenced by a number of factors, including access to education, quality of education, and cultural norms.

Gross national income per capita (PPP)

Gross national income per capita (PPP) is the gross national income (GNI) divided by the population. It is a measure of the average income in a country and is influenced by a number of factors, including the size of the economy, the distribution of income, and the exchange rate.

Inequality-adjusted HDI

The inequality-adjusted HDI is a measure of human development that takes into account inequality within a country. It is calculated by adjusting the HDI for inequality in life expectancy, education, and income.

Gender Inequality Index

The Gender Inequality Index (GII) is a measure of gender inequality in three key areas: reproductive health, Empowerment, and economic activity. It is calculated by taking the average of three indices: the maternal mortality ratio, the adolescent birth rate, and the share of Women in parliament.

Multidimensional POVERTY Index

The Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) is a measure of poverty that takes into account multiple deprivations in people’s lives. It is calculated by taking the average of three indices: education, health, and standard of living.

Human Development Report

The Human Development Report is a publication of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). It is published annually and provides a comprehensive assessment of human development around the world. The report includes data on a wide range of topics, such as life expectancy, education, income, and Equality/”>Gender Equality.

Here are some frequently asked questions and short answers about the following topics:

What is the difference between a country’s GDP and its HDI?

A country’s GDP is the total value of all goods and Services produced in that country in a given year. The HDI is a composite index of three indicators: life expectancy, education, and per capita income. The HDI is a more comprehensive measure of a country’s development than GDP, as it takes into account not only economic factors but also social and environmental factors.

What are the main factors that contribute to a country’s HDI?

The main factors that contribute to a country’s HDI are:

Life expectancy: This is the average number of years that a person is expected to live. A high life expectancy indicates that a country has a good health care system and that people are generally healthy.
Education: This is the average number of years of schooling that people have completed. A high level of education indicates that a country has a good education system and that people are well-educated.
Per capita income: This is the average amount of Money that each person in a country earns per year. A high per capita income indicates that a country has a strong economy and that people are generally well-off.
What are some of the challenges that countries with low HDIs face?

Countries with low HDIs face a number of challenges, including:

Poverty: Many people in these countries live in poverty, meaning that they do not have enough money to meet their basic needs.
Poor health: People in these countries often have poor health, due to lack of access to quality health care.
Low education levels: People in these countries often have low education levels, which can limit their opportunities for EMPLOYMENT and advancement.
Inequality: There is often a great deal of inequality in these countries, with a small minority of people controlling most of the wealth.
What are some of the things that countries can do to improve their HDIs?

There are a number of things that countries can do to improve their HDIs, including:

Investing in education: Countries can invest in education by building schools, hiring teachers, and providing scholarships. This will help to improve the literacy rate and the quality of life for people in the country.
Improving health care: Countries can improve health care by building hospitals, hiring doctors and nurses, and providing free or low-cost health care to citizens. This will help to reduce the number of people who are sick and improve the quality of life for people in the country.
Reducing poverty: Countries can reduce poverty by providing social safety nets, such as Unemployment benefits and food stamps. This will help to ensure that everyone has enough money to meet their basic needs.
Promoting equality: Countries can promote equality by providing equal opportunities for education and employment for all citizens. This will help to reduce inequality and improve the quality of life for everyone in the country.

The Human Development Index (HDI) is a composite statistic of life expectancy, education, and per capita income indicators, which are used to rank countries into four tiers of human development. Which of the following is not one of the three components of the HDI?
(A) Life expectancy at birth
(B) Mean years of schooling
(C) Expected years of schooling
(D) Gross national income per capita
The HDI was developed by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in 1990. Which of the following is the correct order of the four tiers of human development, from highest to lowest?
(A) Very high human development, high human development, medium human development, low human development
(B) High human development, very high human development, medium human development, low human development
(C) Medium human development, high human development, very high human development, low human development
(D) Low human development, medium human development, high human development, very high human development
The HDI has been criticized for being too focused on Economic Development and for not taking into account other important factors such as gender equality and environmental sustainability. Which of the following is an example of a criticism of the HDI?
(A) The HDI does not take into account gender inequality.
(B) The HDI does not take into account environmental sustainability.
(C) The HDI is too focused on economic development.
(D) All of the above.
The HDI has been used to track progress in human development over time. Which of the following is an example of how the HDI has been used?
(A) The HDI has been used to track progress in reducing poverty.
(B) The HDI has been used to track progress in improving education.
(C) The HDI has been used to track progress in improving health.
(D) All of the above.
The HDI is a useful tool for measuring human development, but it has some limitations. Which of the following is a limitation of the HDI?
(A) The HDI is a composite statistic, which means that it does not measure any one aspect of human development in depth.
(B) The HDI is based on data that is collected by governments, which means that it is subject to political bias.
(C) The HDI does not take into account all of the factors that contribute to human development, such as gender equality and environmental sustainability.
(D) All of the above.