Human Development Refining Measurement Methods

The methods to measure human development are continually being refined. Researchers are exploring links between levels of corruption or political freedom and human development.

There’s an ongoing discussion about introducing indices like a political freedom index and corruption listing.

Assessing Human Development: The Dimensions of HDI, UNDP’s Comprehensive Approach, and the Role of HPI

• Key Dimensions: The HDI ranks countries based on their performance in health, education, and access to resources.
• Ranking of Countries: This ranking system uses a score ranging from 0 to 1. 
  • A score closer to 1 indicates a country with a higher level of human development.
  • Example:  a score of 0.983 is considered very high, while 0.268 indicates a very low level.
• Calculation of Dimensions: The HDI is calculated by summing up weights assigned to specific dimensions, with each dimension given a weightage of 1/3. 
• Limitations: Although the HDI reflects achievements in key areas, it isn’t the most reliable measure since it doesn’t consider distribution.

• Key Dimensions of HDI include:
  • Health: The chosen indicator for health is life expectancy at birth. 
    • A higher life expectancy indicates that people are likely to live longer and healthier lives.

• Education: This is represented by the adult literacy rate and the gross enrolment ratio, which showcase access to knowledge in a country. It measures, 
  • The number of adults who are able to read and write.
  • The number of children enrolled in schools shows how easy or difficult it is to access knowledge in a particular country.
• Access to Resources: This is measured by looking at the purchasing power (in U.S. dollars) of the country’s inhabitants.

The Human Poverty Index (HPI): 

• The HPI is a tool that measures the shortfall in human development and is a non-income measure. 
• This index considers factors like:
  • The probability of not surviving till the age of 40.
  • The adult illiteracy rate.
  • The number of people who lack access to clean water.
  • The count of underweight children.
  • Often, the HPI provides insights that might be more revealing than the HDI.
• A Combined Analysis: Evaluating both the HDI and HPI can give a more accurate picture of a country’s human development.

Decoding Human Development: Size, Wealth, and Surprising Disparities in International Comparisons

General Observations:

• Unraveling Human Development Paradox: International comparisons of development yield fascinating insights such as the size of territory and per capita income aren’t directly proportional to human development.
  • Often, smaller countries outperform larger ones in development.
• Sri Lanka, Trinidad and Tobago vs. India: It has been observed that relatively poorer nations rank higher than their wealthier neighbors concerning human development.
  • Example: Sri Lanka and Trinidad and Tobago have higher HDI ranks than India despite smaller economies. 
  • Within India, Kerala outperforms Punjab and Gujarat in HDI despite a lower per capita income.

Top Ten Ranked Countries with High Value Index 

Stratifying Human Progress: Understanding the Levels of Development through HDI Classifications

Table: Classification of Countries by HDI

Misconceptions in International Human Development Comparisons:

• Misleading Impact of Cultural Attribution: Some attribute low HDI scores to cultural or religious factors, which is misleading. 
• Consistent HDI Levels in an Area: To comprehend why an area continually reports specific HDI levels, it’s vital to:
  • Examine government spending on social sectors.
  • Consider the political environment and the freedoms people enjoy.
  • Countries with high HDI invest more in social sectors, generally enjoy political stability and distribute resources more equitably.
• Differential Resource Allocation: In contrast, places with low HDI, allocate more to defence rather than social sectors, indicating prevalent political instability and lackluster economic development.

Gender Dynamics in Human Development: Societal Impacts and Economic Shifts in Development Processes

• Gender Division in Society: The division of society based on gender (male, female, and transgender) is a mixture of both natural/biological and socially constructed norms.
• Impact of Gender-Based Societal Roles: The societal roles assigned to genders lead to differentiation, discrimination, and exclusion, which hinder development.
• Detrimental Effects on Human Development: Discriminating against any gender, especially on grounds of opportunities and rights, is harmful to societal growth and progress.
• Emphasis on Gender Inclusivity: The UNDP acknowledges the challenge and emphasises the need for gender inclusivity in development processes.

Work Participation of Women:

• Women predominantly work in the primary sector, but there’s a notable increase in their participation in the secondary and tertiary sectors over the years.

Sectoral Composition of workforce in India, 2011

Sectoral Shift in the Economy:

• The proportion of workers in the agricultural sector has seen a decline, moving from 58.2% in 2001 to 54.6% in 2011. (Refer to Figure)
• The decline in agricultural employment in India signifies a shift towards non-farm sectors, reflecting a broader economic transition seen globally as countries develop.

Spatial Variation of Work Participation:

• Different states in India have varied work participation rates based on their geographical and socio-economic contexts.
  • High Proportion of Cultivators: In states like Himachal Pradesh and Nagaland have a significant number of cultivators due to the geographical terrain and the predominance of agriculture.
  • Dominance of Agricultural Laborers: Conversely, states such as Bihar, Andhra Pradesh, and West Bengal, among others, have a higher proportion of agricultural labourers.
  • It indicates limited land ownership and more dependency on manual labour.
• Non-Farm Sector Employment in Urbanized Areas: Urbanised areas like Delhi and Chandigarh have a larger percentage of workers in non-farm sectors, pointing to urbanisation and industrialization’s impact.

Conclusion
‘Beti Bachao–Beti Padhao’ stands as a powerful initiative, encapsulating the dual mission of safeguarding the well-being of female children and promoting equal educational opportunities. By addressing these crucial aspects, the program contributes significantly to fostering human development, paving the way for a more inclusive and equitable society.

Also Read: Human Settlements: Rural & Urban Settlements in India’s Human Spaces