Urban Human Development Index (HDI)
Introduction
The human development index (HDI) is an indicator, developed by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), that is used to classify countries into three levels of human development. The index is composed of life expectancy, education (literacy rate, gross enrollment rate at different levels and net attendance) and per capita income indicators. A country obtains a higher HDI when life expectancy is longer, the level of education is higher, and gross national income GNI (PPP, or purchasing power parities) per capita is higher. It was developed by a team led by economist Amartya Sen.
The 2010 Human Development Report introduced an inequality-adjusted human development index (IHDI). While the simple HDI is still useful, UNDP states that "the HDI is the actual level of human development (accounting for inequality), while the HDI can be seen as an index of 'potential' human development (or the maximum level of HDI) that could be achieved if there were no inequality."[1].
The index is based on the human development approach, developed by Mahbub ul Haq, often framed in terms of whether people can "be" and "do" desirable things in their lives. Examples include being well fed, protected, healthy, and activities such as working, educating, voting, and participating in community life. Freedom of choice is fundamental: someone who chooses to be hungry (such as during a religious fast) is different from someone who is hungry because they cannot afford to buy food or because the country is in a famine.[2].
The index does not take into account several factors, such as net wealth per capita or the relative quality of products in a country. This situation tends to lower the ranking of some of the most advanced countries, such as the members of the G7 and others.[3].
Characteristics of the human development index
Other indices related to human development
In addition to the HDI, the UNDP prepares: