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Article
Progress in Human Development: Are we on the Right Path
Interntional Journal of Economic Policy in Emerging Economies (2010)
  • Hippu SK Nathan, Indira Gandhi Institute of Development Research
  • Srijit Mishra, Indira Gandhi Institute of Development Research
Abstract

The conventional measure of Human Development Index (HDI) is a linear average across dimensions, HDI1. Under this, poor attainments in any dimension gets perfectly compensated for better attainments in any other dimension HDI2, which is based on Euclidean distance measuring shortfall from the ideal, addresses the above anomaly. In our analysis of progress, we use HDI2 to develop the notion of an ideal path and penalty to capture deviation from this; and a measure of fluctuation. The measures are applied to 127 countries for the period 1990-2004. The results show that Sub-Saharan countries have suffered on account of sharp decline in health suggesting prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immune deficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) epidemic. In case of Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), the income dimension got jolted in the nineties indicating their economic collapse after Soviet disintegration. We also find some of the emerging economies progressing well along the ideal path. On the eve of the 20th anniversary of Human Development Report, this paper is timely and would engage academia and public policy to have a critical look favouring a balanced development across the three dimensions of HDI – health, education and standard of living. A working paper version is available at http://www.igidr.ac.in/pdf/publication/WP-2010-010.pdf.

Keywords
  • Human Development Index (HDI),
  • Ideal path,
  • Measure of fluctuation,
  • Measure of normalized-change,
  • Sub-Saharan,
  • Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS)
Publication Date
September, 2010
Publisher Statement
This is the authors post-peer review, accepted paper submitted for final publication by Inderscience. The link to the journal web page is as follows: http://www.inderscience.com/search/index.php?action=record&rec_id=35178. Its DOI is: 10.1504/IJEPEE.2010.035178.
Citation Information
Hippu SK Nathan and Srijit Mishra (2010), "Progress in Human Development: Are we on the Right Path?" International Journal of Economic Policy in Emerging Economies, 3(3): 199-221, available at: http://works.bepress.com/srijit_mishra/44. Its journal web page is http://www.inderscience.com/search/index.php?action=record&rec_id=35178 and DOI is 10.1504/IJEPEE.2010.035178.