Human Development Index Ranking Research Articles

COMMONWEALTH OF INDEPENDENT STATES: LEVEL OF HUMAN AND INFORMATION DEVELOPMENT

To study the issues of the preservation and development of human society, in order to provide conditions for a decent and creative life of people, knowledge is needed about the methods for calculating the indices of the development of people's potential, their life and development. Indices allow you to evaluate, compare and compare many of the criteria and indicators of people's living standards in the regions of the world. They have already been created. This will reveal the changes that are taking place. In the countries with transitional economies (the countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States - CIS), the situation has radically changed over the past 25 years. It is necessary to adjust the direction of further development. The CIS countries should occupy a worthy place in the modern information world. However, it is shown that the CIS countries still occupy not very high positions in the HDI rankings. The purpose of the research is to characterize the positions of the CIS countries in the international rating tables on the Human Development Index (HDI) and the indices of the society's information in dynamics over a number of years. Results and practical importance: It is necessary to adjust the direction of further development. The CIS countries should occupy a worthy place in the modern information world.

A Meta-Analysis of the Impact of Natural Disasters on Internalizing and Externalizing Problems in Youth.

Although exposure to natural disasters can lead to diverse mental health (MH) outcomes in youth, most child disaster MH research has focused on posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS). To highlight the likelihood of other MH outcomes, we meta‐analyzed studies that have examined other (non‐PTSS) internalizing and externalizing behavior problems in youth exposed to natural disasters. We used PRISMA guidelines to systematically gather studies that have examined the association between natural disaster exposure and non‐PTSS internalizing and/or externalizing problems in samples of children and adolescents. Analyses of random effects models of 62 studies examining non‐PTSS internalizing problems and 26 studies examining externalizing problems showed exposure to natural disasters was significantly associated with non‐PTSS internalizing, r mean = .18, k = 70, and externalizing problems, r mean = .08; k = 31, in youth. Moderator analyses revealed a stronger association between disaster exposure and non‐PTSS internalizing problems in countries with a “medium” Human Development Index (HDI) ranking, r = .56, than in countries with “high,” r = .15, and “very high,” r = .16, HDI rankings. We also found a stronger association between disaster exposure and externalizing problems in countries with a medium HDI ranking, r = .54, versus high, r = .05, and very high, r = .04, HDI rankings, and based on parent, r = .16, compared to child, r = −.01, report. Results support the need for assessment of multiple postdisaster MH outcomes to inform comprehensive interventions. We also include a discussion of the state of the disaster MH research.

Giving Trends in Myanmar: More Than Merit Making

Myanmar, with a human development index ranking of 145 out of 188 countries (UNDP,2016), has been given the prestigious title as the number one giving nation in the world for three years running (2014-2016) by Charities Aid Foundation, challenging the notion that giving is tied to wealth. Explanations for why this is the case tend to focus on the religious practices of Theravada Buddhism and merit-making. This explanation is only part of the picture, however, and does not account for the similarly high rates of giving by other religious groups in Myanmar or for the failing of other Buddhist nations to equal Myanmar’s generosity. I will argue that the low levels of state investment in basic human welfare and the widespread deprivation in the country due to the long years of military rule, coupled with the lack of effective institutions to provide basic social welfare services, are equally strong motivators for charity. At the same time, I will demonstrate that giving trends in Myanmar - even those motivated by compassion or religious duty - area response to immediate needs that are unmet by government or institutional support. For the vast majority of people, reliance on your neighbor is the only available insurance. Such charitable giving rarely extends to philanthropic giving, which addresses systemic and root causes of poverty rather than targeting symptoms. I provide explanations for the high level of charitable giving in Myanmar, looking at everyday examples of giving in Myanmar from both individuals and local businesses and considering the humanitarian disaster of Cyclone Nargis in 2008 as a case example.

Avoiding Ranking Contradictions in Human Development Index Using Goal Programming

This paper builds on the extensive literature of the rank reversal issue in multi-criteria decision making (MCDM) techniques. It is a continuation of the study of Sayed et al. (Soc Indic Res 123(1):1–27, 2015) that exhibited this problem in the human development index (HDI) framework. The proposed methodology, the Goal Programming Benefit-of-the-Doubt (GP-BOD), aims to overcome this problem and obtain consistent and stable rankings. For investigating the credibility of the proposed method in solving this issue, it has been applied to the HDI dataset in 2012. The resulted HDI rankings are compared with those evaluated from eleven overlapping sub-groups that are internationally categorized based on geographic regions and income levels. The results show a solution to the ranking contradictions problem. Among other merits, the results prove two additional features of the proposed GP-BOD model. First, the resulted countries’ rankings are distinguishable and absolutely tie-free. This enhances the discriminating power of the proposed rank preservation model. Second, the GP-BOD weights are evaluated on a common base to compare all countries on the same scale. Moreover, a lower bound is endogenously imposed on these weights to avoid the problem of zero weights. Finally, the validity of the proposed GP-BOD technique has been thoroughly examined using sensitivity tests. The results show stability in the rankings when different methods of normalization and weighting are applied.

Developing an Index of Socio-Economic Development Consistent with Maq??id al-Shar??ah

In the economic development literature, both the definition and scope of economic development has gone through significant changes. Initially, economic growth and economic development were synonymous terms and per capita income was a sufficient enough barometer for informing about the level of economic development. Then, focus has shifted to human development and now towards sustainable development. Human Development Index (HDI) is the most widely used index for assessing level of economic development; however, it does not account explicitly for environmental degradation, resource depletion, income distribution and poverty. This study strives to assist in building a comprehensive index that covers these elements which are considered important for ensuring sustainable development and that are also reflective of Maqasid Al-Shari’ah. Our findings represent striking differences between HDI and Islamic HDI (I-HDI) rankings. Oil rich Muslim countries go several places down in I-HDI as compared to their HDI rankings. Similarly, countries with political unrest do much worse in I-HDI than in HDI. Several rich countries of Latin America and Europe due to high debt burden, unemployment rate and income inequality rank low in I-HDI as compared to their standing in HDI. Overall, the results indicate that Muslim countries are themselves far behind in meeting the ideals of Maqasid-e-Shari’ah and ensuring sustaining development.

The Proportion of Anemia Associated with Iron Deficiency in Low, Medium, and High Human Development Index Countries: A Systematic Analysis of National Surveys.

Iron deficiency is commonly assumed to cause half of all cases of anemias, with hereditary blood disorders and infections such as hookworm and malaria being the other major causes. In countries ranked as low, medium, and high by the Human Development Index, we conducted a systematic review of nationally representative surveys that reported the prevalence of iron deficiency, iron deficiency anemia, and anemia among pre-school children and non-pregnant women of reproductive age. Using random effects meta-analyses techniques, data from 23 countries for pre-school children and non-pregnant women of reproductive age was pooled, and the proportion of anemia attributable to iron deficiency was estimated by region, inflammation exposure, anemia prevalence, and urban/rural setting. For pre-school children and non-pregnant women of reproductive age, the proportion of anemia associated with iron deficiency was 25.0% (95% CI: 18.0, 32.0) and 37.0% (95% CI: 28.0, 46.0), respectively. The proportion of anemia associated with iron deficiency was lower in countries where anemia prevalence was >40%, especially in rural populations (14% for pre-school children; 16% for non-pregnant women of reproductive age), and in countries with very high inflammation exposure (20% for pre-school children; 25% for non-pregnant women of reproductive age). Despite large heterogeneity, our analyses suggest that the proportion of anemia associated with iron deficiency is lower than the previously assumed 50% in countries with low, medium, or high Human Development Index ranking. Anemia-reduction strategies and programs should be based on an analysis of country-specific data, as iron deficiency may not always be the key determinant of anemia.

The International Postal Network and Other Global Flows as Proxies for National Wellbeing.

The digital exhaust left by flows of physical and digital commodities provides a rich measure of the nature, strength and significance of relationships between countries in the global network. With this work, we examine how these traces and the network structure can reveal the socioeconomic profile of different countries. We take into account multiple international networks of physical and digital flows, including the previously unexplored international postal network. By measuring the position of each country in the Trade, Postal, Migration, International Flights, IP and Digital Communications networks, we are able to build proxies for a number of crucial socioeconomic indicators such as GDP per capita and the Human Development Index ranking along with twelve other indicators used as benchmarks of national well-being by the United Nations and other international organisations. In this context, we have also proposed and evaluated a global connectivity degree measure applying multiplex theory across the six networks that accounts for the strength of relationships between countries. We conclude by showing how countries with shared community membership over multiple networks have similar socioeconomic profiles. Combining multiple flow data sources can help understand the forces which drive economic activity on a global level. Such an ability to infer proxy indicators in a context of incomplete information is extremely timely in light of recent discussions on measurement of indicators relevant to the Sustainable Development Goals.

Inequalities in lung cancer: a world of EGFR.

Epidermal growth factor receptor gene (EGFR) mutation status has emerged as a crucial issue in lung cancer management. Availability and cost of tests and tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) may vary as a function of country development.We conducted a prospective specialist opinion survey to map EGFR test and EGFR-TKI availability and detect associations with the Human Development Index (HDI). A questionnaire was sent to specialists in thoracic oncology in all United Nations Member States.We obtained responses from 74 countries, comprising 78% of the worldwide population. Nonresponding countries had significantly lower HDI rank than responding countries. EGFR mutation analysis was routinely available in 57 countries (70% of the worldwide population). The cost of the test was <US$500 in 49 countries (42.5% of the worldwide population). Test availability and cost were both significantly linked to HDI. Erlotinib, gefitinib, afatinib and icotinib were routinely available in 75%, 66%, 31% and 23% of the worldwide population, respectively, also associated with HDI.EGFR mutation testing and EGFR-TKIs are widely accessible in routine practice worldwide. However, there are large discrepancies in access to this innovative treatment path and in its cost for patients as a function of country development.

What Determines Performance Gap Index of Health Care in Gujarat?

The health performance of Gujarat viewed in terms of the Human Development Index (HDI) portrays it as a medium performer in the country. However, the index of health component for Gujarat is found to be positively contributing to the HDI ranking of the state. It is, therefore, crucial to review the status of health performance of Gujarat among the other states for improving its relative standing in human development. In this context, the present article attempts to identify the gaps in performance of the health-related outcome, output and input indicators from the best performers in each indicator. Moreover, the article also reviews the trends in health performance of Gujarat over time and also estimates the effectiveness of the state in converting its health inputs to outputs and outputs to outcomes. The results indicate that the outcome indicators have improved in the absolute sense but have high performance gaps except the maternal mortality rate (MMR). Majority of the output and input indicators, however, show poor absolute performance and high performance gaps that have been expanding over time. The effectiveness of conversion of health indicators in Gujarat suggests that while the state has moved above average in conversion of outputs to outcomes, it has moved at a slightly below-average level in converting its inputs to outputs over time. Improving the health status of Gujarat requires targeted efforts in specific areas such as controlling neonatal deaths, improving coverage of children under immunization and addressing malnourishment. Additionally, building adequate health infrastructure and employing the required manpower are also relevant.

Infectious diseases, IL6 −174G > C polymorphism, and human development

Interleukin-6 (IL6) is a pro-inflammatory cytokine that is required for resistance against many pathogens. However, sustained IL6 activity can cause tissue damage in the periphery and brain. Previous studies have shown that populations in disease-endemic regions adapt by selecting the high-producing G-allele at the −174G>C (rs1800795) polymorphism, while others have linked increased IL6 to cognitive impairments. The present study sought to determine whether up-regulation of IL6 by the G-allele at rs1800795 polymorphism in disease-endemic regions was associated with increased cognitive deficits and corollary reductions in social, economic, and political development.We tested these hypotheses in a global sample of 189 nations with World Health Organization ratings for infectious diseases. We also included the Historical Pathogen Prevalence index, a measure of national average intelligence (IQ), and the United Nation Human Development Index (HDI) including per capita income, life expectancy, child mortality, and fertility rate. IL6 −174G>C allele frequencies were obtained from 171,168 individuals spanning 84 nations.The high-producing G-allele frequency was positively correlated with infectious disease ranking (r=0.745, P<0.001) and negatively with IQ (r=−0.524, P<0.001) and HDI (r=−0.671, P<0.001). These robust findings suggest that in regions with a high pathogen burden the need for a strong IL6 response is accompanied by cognitive deficits and reduced HDI ranking.

Human Development Index—Revisited: Integration of Human Values

In the present article, the concept of Human Development Index (HDI) has been revisited so as to integrate the human values using the Corruption Perception Index (CPI) measured by Transparency International, for different countries, as a simple generalization within the framework of existing Anand and Sen’s (1994) and Haq’s (1990) prescription. In this framework, a geometrical average of three indices corresponding to three dimensions, namely, the life expectancy, years of schooling and standard of living (gross national income per capita), was taken. In order to have HDI in broader perspective, one has to integrate another important dimension known as human values. The main hypotheses of this article are: (a) human values play an important role in human development; (b) CPI has a strong correlation with HDI; and (c) CPI is intimately linked with the outcome of human values. The important finding of this article is the successful establishment of these hypotheses which brought appreciable changes in the HDI when human values are integrated with it. As a result, most of the countries showed a vast decline in HDI (up to 30 per cent), affecting the respective ranking of different countries. Such a value-based HDI (VHDI) is supposed to motivate even the richer countries to improve their HDI ranking in future.

Acute Myeloid Leukemia: Challenges and Real World Data from India

Management of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) in India remains a challenge. With a human development index rank of 134, a per capita gross net income of US$3500 and a government expenditure of only 1.2% of GDP allocated for health (http://indiabudget.nic.in) a major constraint to treatment of AML remains the cost of therapy. In the majority (>80%), in the absence of a universal and comprehensive health insurance, most payments are out of pocket (Karan et al. Health Policy and Planning 2008).We undertook a two year prospective study to evaluate the clinical characteristics and outcome of patients with a diagnosis of AML (AML-M3 excluded) referred to our tertiary care center. The study was conducted from July 2012 till June 2014 and was approved by the institutional ethics committee. In addition to standard of care diagnostic tests and therapy a detailed questionnaire was administered to patients at diagnosis and on follow up. A total of 427 patients were diagnosed with AML during this period. Of these 380 (89%) were newly diagnosed. Of the newly diagnosed 47 (12.3%) were ≤ 15 years and 62 (16.3%) were ≥ 60 years old. The age distribution of newly diagnosed cases is illustrated in Figure 1A. The median age of newly diagnosed patients was 40 years (range: 1-79) and there were 244 (64.2%) males. The median duration of symptoms prior to first presentation at our hospital was 4 weeks (range: 1-52). ECOG performance score at presentation was ≤ 2 in 94.7%. Cytogenetic data was available in 281 and of these 33 (11.7%), 197 (70.1%) and 51 (18.2%) were in the good, intermediate and adverse risk groups respectively. FLT3 and NPM1 mutation status was available in 143 and of these 22 (15.8%) and 5 (3.4%) were FLT3-/NPM+ and FLT3+/NPM- respectively. The median distance from home to hospital was 580km (range: 6-3200) and 27 patients were from another country. 348 (91.6%) patients were self paying with all expenses being out of pocket (data was not available in 7).Of the newly diagnosed patients only 109 (28.7%) opted for standard of care and were admitted for induction chemotherapy (Figure 1B). The comparison of the 109 that took treatment and the 271 (71.3%) that did not revealed that these two groups were comparable for the above baseline characteristics with the following exceptions; those that did not take treatment resided significantly further away from the hospital, had significantly longer duration of symptoms prior to reaching our hospital and were significantly less likely to be ≤15 years. Of the 271 that did not take treatment the major reason was lack of financial support in 219 (80.8%), lack of social support in 46 (17.6%) and a combination of denial, choice of alternative medicines, apathy and fatalistic attitude in 39 (14.9%). 220 (81%) of those that did not receive treatment were ≤ 60 years old.Induction chemotherapy consisted of standard induction as in the BFM98 protocol for patients ≤15 years, conventional 7/3 in adults and hypomethylating agents in older patients or in young adults with significant co morbidities at the discretion of the treating physician (n=12(11%) and of these 6 were ≥60 years). Following induction chemotherapy 100% developed febrile neutropenia. Blood cultures detected an organism in 71 (65%) on at least one occasion and the organism was a Gram negative bacilli (GNB) in 45 (42%), Gram positive in 18 (16%) and mixed/ alternate infection in 8 (7%). Of the GNB 19 (42%) were carbapenem resistance organisms (CRO) (Figure 1C). 30 (27.5%) had a fungal infection in induction which was proven (EORTC/MSG criteria) in 4 (Figure 1D). There were 27 (24.7%) inductions deaths and of these 18 (67%) were due to sepsis related to GNB of which in 12(67%) the organism was a CRO. Among the patients that had an induction death in 12 (52%) there was evidence of a fungal infection which was proven in one case. The overall survival at one year was 70.4%±10.7%, 55.6%±6.8% and 42.4%±15.6% in patients ≤ 15 years, >15to <60 years and in ≥ 60 years age groups respectively.In conclusion there are significant challenges in the management of AML in India. The major reason for not proceeding with treatment is the absence of financial resources. Induction deaths are related to a high incidence of multi-drug resistant organisms and fungal infections. The biggest constraint is the cost of the treatment and the absence of a health security net to treat all patients with this diagnosis. [Display omitted] DisclosuresSrivastava:Octapharma: Consultancy, Other.

PENANGANAN ANAK PUTUS SEKOLAH DI JAWA TENGAH

In 2011 Human Development Index ranking (Human Development Index) Indonesia dropped in position 69 of 127 countries drop out rate in Central Java at primary level is quite high. A total of 527 850 children or 1.7% of the 31.05 million children drop out of school each year. The decline in the composite index of education, as the pressures of poverty causes poor families are forced to sacrifice the continuity of children's education. Spread the dropout rate for elementary education / MI RPJMD is already close to the target of 0.12% by 2013. But there are still quite high at 501 for cilacap District, 542 Brebes and Tegal 499. For MI SD is relatively small compared Cilacap, 34, 130 and Bradford counties Tegal 54 As for the education level of SMP / MTS Cilacap, 290 Brebes Tegal 612 and 643. While MTS Cilacap, 118 districts Brebes and Tegal 109 and 125 (source Disdik Prov). Based on field data, the number of school dropouts is much higher. Causes of school children is because children from poor kelauarga generally forced to work to help their parents, both in the domestic activities of the household and for public sector jobs that generate income: Child labor is treated as a substitute bp / mother, their time is taken engage in productive and domestic activities. The main zoning model of community involvement in the school (PKBM, SATAP) realistic enough to be developed, and the involvement of the Board of Education committee on the level needs to be increased role dikembangkn upt ill and confined to the Division of alternative management and financing of education in the treatment of ATS. Recommendations that can be delivered is through the handling model school children should learn from empirical conditions in these areas, through revitalization, facilitation (1) Community Learning Center Group (PKBM) in certain areas (2) SATAP for junior high school particularly isolated areas. Providing PKBM for children out of school and out of school is very helpful for those who can not afford the time and willingness. As happened in the village PKBM Malahayu unatuk pastoralist cattle, goats; PKBM in Nusawungu and PKBM in Pangkah, Kedungreja; Socialization Program Fair 9-year improved. While also optimizing the role of the Board of Education, the School Committee Level Forum Communications Unit and the School Committee Joint Education Unit Level SKPD not limited to education alone.

Looking at Sierra Leone’s Ebola Epidemic Through an Agrarian Lens

First paragraphs: When the residents of the small town of Fort Kent in rural Maine expressed their concerns about Sierra Leone's Ebola epidemic arriving on their doorstep (Freyer, 2014), they may have not known that they were right to realize that Sierra Leone is actually far closer to the United States than may be immediately obvious. The West African country, which is about the size of the state of Maine, is home to a population of six million, among whom many are descended from the 1,200 freed enslaved people who were brought back from the U.S. in 1791. The freed slaves had been returned to the same spot of the African coast from which millions of slaves had been shipped to the U.S. to work in the rice and sugar cane plantations. The history of Sierra Leone is one of dispossession, enslavement, exploitation, and thievery at the hand of local, colonial, and imperial powers. These hardships have contributed to the enrichment of many, including Hollywood magnates and actors who dug into the country's 1991–2002 civil war, fueled by the illegal sale of the country's diamonds, for inspiration. The award-winning 2006 movie Blood Diamond, starring Leonardo DiCaprio, grossed over US$170 million, of which the people of Sierra Leone never saw a single cent. For this is Sierra Leone's predicament: its people do not benefit from its riches. For instance, while natural resources abound, especially fertile lands, diamonds, and tropical forests, the country is plagued by land grabs, blood diamonds, and conflict timber (McCoy, 2014). Sierra Leone is one of the poorest countries in the world, with a Human Development Index ranking in 2013 of 183 out of 187 (United Nations Development Programme [UNDP], 2014).

Redefining the Human Development Index to Account for Sustainability

Earlier measures of growth like Gross Domestic Product per capita, or even more recent measures like the Human Development Index (HDI), failed to consider the ‘environmental’ aspect of development. Currently, countries that have accepted the sustainability challenge are finding ways to determine if they are making progress in a sustainable way by addressing the environmental aspect of development. This paper attempts to improve the HDI by adding an ‘ecological footprint to total bio-capacity ratio’ as an indicator of environmental resource use. This new index, the Environmentally Stressed Human Development Index (ESHDI) while trying to account for sustainable development, dramatically alters the original HDI rankings of countries. Some ‘high’ and ‘medium’ income countries are enduring excessive environmental stress to sustain economic development.

Stirring the pot. Influence of changes in methodology of the Human Development Index on reporting by the press

This paper assesses changes in the Human Development Index (HDI) rank for a sample of 135 countries over 20 years. The countries selected have had a presence in every HDI table published in the Human Development Reports since 1990. A measure of change in rank between subsequent years was developed so as to allow for differences in the number of countries included in the tables. Results suggest that changes in HDI methodology lead to increased turbulence in country ranking. Also, that there are significant differences between countries in their shifts in HDI table ranking, with five countries in particular (Romania, Jamaica, Botswana, Iran and Belize) experiencing substantially greater turbulence in rank than others. Results suggest that periods of enhanced turbulence in HDI ranking may lead to increased reporting in the world's press. The paper makes a case for a new way of thinking of indicators – in terms of a ‘natural selection’ process that operates over time. In the opinion of the author this approach would help create a greater understanding as to what makes some indicators and indices successful while others are not so and indeed would help with a better understanding of what is meant by the term ‘success’ with regard to such tools.

The association between perceived HIV-related stigma and presentation for HIV/AIDS care in developing countries: a systematic review protocol

Review question/objective The objective of this review is to identify the best available evidence regarding the association between perceived HIV-related stigma and presentation for HIV/AIDS care in developing countries. Inclusion criteria Types of participants This review will consider studies that include HIV-positive participants aged 15 years and older in developing countries; defined as those countries listed as “low human development” on the 2013 WHO human development index rankings. Patients receiving prior HIV/AIDS care will be excluded from this review. Types of exposure(s) This review will consider studies that evaluate HIV-related stigma. HIV-related stigma may be measured using any validated tool, either by self-administered questionnaire or interviewing method for people living with HIV, health workers, or the general population. Types of outcomes This review will consider studies that include the following outcomes: Time at presentation for HIV care, measured by immune status or stage of HIV infection. Early presentation for HIV care is defined as WHO stage I or II and CD4>=200 cells/µL. Late presentation for HIV care is defined as WHO stage III or IV or CD4<200 cells/µL.

Socio-Economic Development and Muslim Countries' Islamic Solidarity through Globalization : A Comparative Study of 51 Countries of the Muslim World , including Iran , 2006 - 2005

Since today the formation of regional alliances is considered as a key tool for improving changes of the structure and contributing to the balanced development among the underdeveloped countries. Therefore, the importance and status of Muslim countries’ Islamic solidarity is more evident as before. This effort appears to be that Muslim countries have not still achieved an agreement to raise the level of educational- technical exchanges between themselves. Despite the significant facilities to grow and develop some Muslim countries in recent decades, trade relations and socio-economic cooperation, educational development is not so much between countries. Muslim countries because of not being fully aware of their abilities and opportunities with which they face are doing more than 90 percent of their trade, social and educational exchanges to non-Muslim countries now. In recent years, much attention has been paid to the issue of economic cooperation among Muslim countries as a strategy for economic growth and development of the Muslim world, so that regional arrangements have been considered by Muslim countries. Bilateral or multilateral cooperation of Muslim countries together as well as their cooperation in the outlined framework, and also as well as their participation in the regional alliances consisted of Muslim countries, can be another important factor to develop economic cooperation in the Muslim world. So if geographically Muslim countries have been examined, today, about 57 Muslim countries have about 20% of the world population (1.217 billion people) and more than 21% of territory around the world, unfortunately human development index ranking in the Muslim countries is low compared to other countries.

What Does Brunei Teach Us About Using Human Development Index Rankings as a Policy Tool?

The Bruneian Government has set an ambitious target to achieve a top 10 ranking on the UNDP’s Human Development Index (HDI) by 2035. To achieve its objective (described in a national strategy document called the Wawasan 2035), Brunei’s economy needs to grow by 6%-7%. Is setting an HDI target a good way to govern Brunei’s policymaking? Is it a good way to govern any country’s policymaking? In this paper, we look at the role HDI-rank targets play on economic and fiscal policy. We show that such a headline target (much like a profit target in a private company setting) automatically sets targets for growth in various economic sectors and fiscal policy targets. As such, HDI-rank targeting may provide a useful mechanism for co-ordinating development policies and for monitoring progress against a wide range development goals using only one number.

Impact of migrant workers on the Human Development Index

IntroductIonIn 1990, to help public health officials, politicians and key leaders compare human wellbeing, the UN Development Programme created the Human Development Index (HDI).1 The aim was to create an index that was based on available country- specific data, whilst being transparent and suffi- ciently robust enough to withstand scientific scru- tiny. The index is now widely used to compare world countries, and government leaders pay close attention to the individual rank of each country.The HDI is based on the concept that people are the real wealth of a nation. The originators of the HDI recognised that there are three essential components required for humans to develop to their maximum ability: health, education and income. There is general agreement that if any one of these elements is absent, individual achievement will be severely limited. Currently, the composite index is obtained by first normalising each individual component to a maximum value of unity so that all are on a comparable scale. Then the overall HDI is computed by taking the geometric mean of the three individual index val- ues.2 The health component of the index is based solely on life expectancy at birth, and the wealth component is based upon the gross national income per capita. Since 2011, the education part of the HDI is calculated by combining two separate measures: mean schooling years for adults and expected school years for children entering the school system. The geometric mean of these two values comprises the education index.For countries with large numbers of guest workers, mean years of schooling is likely to be low, because the majority of guest workers are unskilled labourers with a lower educational level than the citizen population. In contrast, the expected number of school years component would be relatively unaffected by guest workers because it is based upon students currently enrolled in the educational system.The aim of this report is to determine the impact of guest worker status on the composite HDI ranking score. We focused on the 93 countries classified as high or very high human development because this group has the highest concentration of migrant guest workers.MethodWe used published HDI data from the UN Human Development Programme 2010 or the most recent year to examine country rankings for all the countries ranked in the high or very high HDI groups.2 As an estimate of the number of migrant guest workers, we used the percentage of migrant workers aged 40-45 in the total popula- tion from available data in the UN migration data- base or, if unavailable, data from the World Bank.3,4 To determine the impact of migrant sta- tus on HDI, we plotted the country-specific rank- ing of each of the three individual HDI compo- nents (education, health, income) against migrant status. We also plotted each of the three compo- nents against the overall HDI, using a marker to identify those countries with the highest propor- tion of migrant workers.We used linear least squares analyses to study the relationship between migrant status and HDI as well as the individual components of the HDI. For outcomes that appeared non- linear, we used locally weighted scatterplot smoothing (Lowess) to fit the data. For comparing continuous variables between groups of coun- tries, we used t-tests. All p-values are two-sided, with a predetermined significance level of .05.ResultsData for both HDI and migrant status were availa- ble for 89 of the 93 countries listed in the UN high or very high development group. When we plot- ted the educational component of the HD against the percentage of migrants in these countries, we noted a biphasic curve with an inflexion point when the percentage of migrant workers in the population reached 30%. After this level was reached, there was a robust negative correlation between the educational component of the HDI and percentage of migrant workers (R = 0. …