Evaluate the usefulness of a range of indicators of development

Evaluate the usefulness of a range of indicators of development

1. Economic

   • GDP
     • Value of goods in a country
       • This is more of a national aspect
       • NOT individual income
     • Liechtenstein highest - does this mean most developed?
       • Congo Bottom
   • GNP
     • includes income from abroad
       • More global aspect
   • PPP
     • Purchasing Power Parity
   • Problems
     • Exchange rates can change prices of things
     • Distribution of wealth may only be on 1 industry
       • Saudi = Oil
       • Siera Leone = Diamonds
       • If this industry dies - whole country may be in trouble
       • not representative of the level of devel.
     • Informal economy is not shown in indicators = seems less developed

2. Socail

   • Many are subjective and are therefore not great indicators
     • crime
       • unreported crime figures not included so the indicator is not accurate
     • Quality of life
     • Happiness
     • Corruption perception index
   • Others do help to indicate devel. level
     • Obesity
       • Food not avaiable in LEDC's LDC's
     • Number of people per car
     • Pop per Doc
       • V. good indicator
         • MEDC's have low pop per doc uk = 6.7
     • Literacy Levels
       • V. good
       • higher the levels = more developed
         • Niger = 28.8%
         • Bangladesh = 56.8%
         • UK = 99%
     • % access to safe water (key indicator)

3. Multiple Component Indices

   • Human Development Index
     • PPP, Lefe expectancy, adult literacy, Avg no. schooling years
       • This is possibly the best indicator as it only uses indices that are relevant to development
       • Uses: economic, Demographics, & socail
   • Human Poverty index
     • % LE <40, % adult literacy, %without safe water, %access to health services,%<5 under weight
   • Gini inequality
   • These are good indicators as it combines single indicies
   • Issues?

4. Intro- definition

   • improvement in human welfare, quality of life, technology and social well being whilst growing economically and maintaining a sustianable status that will meet the needs of today and also benefit the future genertations
   • Devel. can be measure in a no. of ways

5. Demographics

   • DTM
     • shows apparent stages of development with DR,BR and pop growth
   • BR
     • India - 20.24 births/1000
     • England - 12.26/1000
     • Indicates that England (MDC) is more developed than India (NIC/LEDC)
       • Good indicator as generally mean more developed = smaller families as less need for large familes to provide income or simply survive
   • DR
     • India- 7.39 deaths/1000
     • England- 9.33/1000
     • Not always the best indicator as countries in LDC's have high DR due to disease ect, MDC's have fairly high DR due to ageing pop.
   • Mortality rates
     • G indicator
       • high in less dveloped
         • 74.87/1000 live births
   • Stage of urbanisation is a good indicator
     • Eg Congo = hasnt reached Agri. Rev
     • England in Re-urbanisation (highest level)

6. 1st, 2nd, 3rd world system

   • Out of date
     • Is not very useful
       • what is a 1st world country?
       • Even up too date there is overlapping of levels
         • factors like; oil rich, Centrally planned
   • (refer to Devel. Spectrum)
   • Needs to include NIC's, BRIC's LEDC's
     • NIC/LEDC = India
     • BRIC= Brazil
     • LDC = Cameroon, DR Congo
     • MDC .= England
   • 1st = WW2 winners , 2nd = WW2 losers and 3= everyone else
     • Does not really indicate devel.
   • gives a good general indication