Classifying Countries - Human Development Index (4)

The first four dotpoints - Classifying Countries, Characteristics of Countries, Human Development, Human development Index

What is the purpose of classifying countries?

-To allow countries with similar characteristics to be grouped together so guiding policies and interventions that act to attempt to improve H+W can be made.

What are the categories of countries?

High income, middle income (upper middle-income and lower middle-income) and low income.

-The categories are based on a country’s Gross National Income (GNI) per capita, or average incomes.

Low income GNI per capita range

$1135 or less

(Afghanistan, Chad, Uganda)

Lower middle-income GNI per capita range

$1136 - $4465

(Cambodia, India, Pakistan)

What is the GNI per capita range for upper middle-income countries?

$4466 - $13 845

(China, Cuba, Fiji, Indonesia)

What is the GNI per capita range for high-income countries?

$13 846 or more

(Australia, Canada, UK, USA)

List the three characteristics of high, middle, and low-income countries

Economic, social, and environmental

-These chracteristics are often interrelated - high average incomes (economic) will most likely mean there are higher levels of education (social), which will most likely mean there are adeqquate levels of infrastrcuture (environmental)

Define economic characteristics in a country

-Relates to financial and economic productivity in a country

-Involves poverty levels, range of industries, global trade opportunities, average incomes, international debt levels

Define social characteristics in a country

-Relates to the social environment

-Involves levels of gender equality, birth rates and population growth, levels of employment, levels of education, access to technology and legal systems

Define environmental characteristics in a country

-Relates to the physical environment

-Water and sanitation, food security levels, housing, infrastructure, levels of carbon dioxide emissions.

What is poverty (economic) and how does it differ between LIC, MIC, and HIC?

-Lack of access to resources, often as the result of a lack of access to money

LIC: High levels of poverty; higher than MIC and HIC

MIC: Improving levels of poverty - loewr compred to LIC and higher compared to HIC

HIC: Low levels of poverty compared to LIC and MIC.

How does range of industries (economic) differ between LIC, MIC, and HIC

LIC: Tend to be focused on farming and primary production, susceptible to natural disasters - smaller range of industries compared to MIC and HIC

MIC: Improving range of industries compared to LIC, but still lacking in the range of industries of HIC

HIC: Large range of industries compared to LIC and MIC.

What is global trade (economic) and how does it differ amongst LIC, MIC, and HIC

-The buying and selling of goods and services between countries

LIC: Limited participation in global trade due to poorer infrastructure, fewer resources, and less experience in international markets compared to MIC and HIC

MIC: Increasing involvement in global trade as infrastructure and economies develop

HIC: Extensive participation in global trade, supported by well-developed infrastructure, resources, and experience in international markets.

What are average incomes (economic) and how does it differ amongst LIC, MIC, and HIC?

-The average amount of money earned by indvidiuals within a country

LIC: Low average incomes - many people work in agriculture and primary production, which often generate lower incomes and are more vulnerable to natural disasters and price fluctuations compared to MIC and HIC

MIC: Moderate and increasing average incomes as industrialisation and employment opportunities expand.

-HIC: High averager incomes - a diverse range of industries (technology, healthcare, and finance provides a greater variety of higher-paying jobs)

What is gender equality (social) and how does it differ amongst LIC, MIC, and HIC

-When males and females have equal rights, repsonsibilities, and opportunities

LIC: Females may have limited opportunities for education and often work in fields tending rops or spend significant time collecting water and preparing meals compared to MIC and HIC

MIC: Benefit from greater levels of gender equality; more females are in paid employment which helps to reduce poverty and contribute to a coutnry’s productivity and economy.

HIC: Often experience relatively high gender equality - equal choices in education, employment, community participation, family planning, and recreation.

What are birth and population rates (social) and how do they differ across LIC, MIC, and HIC

Number of births and population growth within a country

LIC: High birth rates and rapid population growth - caused by limited access to contraception, gender equality, education, and family planning compared to MIC and HIC

MIC: Birth rates and population growth are declining as development improves, but remain higher than in HICs.

HIC: Low birth rates and slow population growth. Greater access to contraception, education, and gender equality contributes to lower birth rates.

Define education and employment levels (social) and how it differs across LIC, MIC, and HIC.

-Access to education and empoyment opportunities within a country

LIC: Lower levels of education and employment - education systems are often less developed, causing limited career opportunities.

MIC: Improving access to education and employment opportunities, but not the same extend as HICs.

HIC: High levels of education and employment. People often have a wide range of educational and career choices, supported by well-developed education systems.

Define social security systems (social) and how it differs amongst LIC, MIC, and HIC.

-Government programs that provide financial support and services to people experiencing hardship

LIC: Limited or no, social security systems dye to lower levels of economic development and fewer government resources - people who are unemployed/unable to work may be pushed further into poverty

MIC: Some social security systems exist, but support is often less comprehensive than in HICs.

HIC: Comprehensive social security systems - higher levels of eocnomic development and stable political systems allow governments to provide financial support for people who are unemployed, ill, disabled, or otherwise unable to work.

Define health systems (social) and how it differs amongst LIC, MIC, and HIC.

-The organisations, facilties, and services that provude healthcare to a population.

LIC: Limited access to healthcare services, facilities, medial equipment, and trained health professionals.

MIC: Improving healthcare systems and access, but services may still be limited in some areas

HIC: Well-developed health systems - people can generally access quality healthcare when needed, regardless of their ability to pay

Define access to technology (social) and how it differs amongst LIC, MIC, and HIC.

-Availability of communication systems, the internet, and medical technologies that support education, employment, trade, and healthcare

LIC: Limited access to technology due lower levels of economic development and infrastructure - this can reduce opportunities for education and employment

MIC: Increasing access to technology as infrastructure and economies develope

HIC: High levels of access to technology due to greater eeconomic resources, infrastructure, and education. Technology support trade, education, communication, and healthcare.

Define legal systems (social) and how it differs amongst LIC, MIC, and HIC.

-The laws, institutions, and processes that maintian order, protect rights, and enforce justice.

LIC: Legal and political systems may be less developed or unstable - political unrest and conflict can occur, making it difficult to protect human rights.

MIC: Legal systems are developing, but political instability may still exist in some countries

HIC: Strong and stable legal and political systems that help maintain order, protect human rights, and ensure citizens can live safely and access services such as education

Define safe water and sanitation (environmental) and how it differs across LIC, MIC, and HIC

-Access to clean drinking water and facilities that safely manage human waste and promote hygiene

LIC: Many people lack acess to safe drinking water and adequate sanitation facilties, increasing the risk of disease

MIC: Access is improving, but disaprities may still exist, particularly in rural areas

HIC: Almost universal access to safee water and sanitation - these services help protect health and wellbeing and reduce the spread of disease

Define food security and how it differs across LIC, MIC, and HIC.

-Reliable access to sufficient, safe, and nutritious food to meet dietary needs for an active and healthy life.
LIC: Lower levels of food security - natural diasters, poverty, and limited resources can significantly affect food availability

MIC: Food security is improving, although some populations may still experience food shortages.

HIC: High levels of food security with reliable access to a quality food supply

Define adequate housing (environmental) and how it differs across LIC, MIC, and HIC.

-Housing that provides safety, security, protection from the elements, and access to basic facilities such as clean water and sanitation.

LIC: Many people live in substandard housing with poor venitlation, limited access to running water, inadequate cooking facilities, and poor protection from weather and disease - urban slums are common

MIC: Housing quality is improving, but some people still live in overcrowded or inadequate housing, particularly in urbans slums

HIC: Most people have access to safe, secure, and well-constructed housing with essential services and utilities.

Define adequate infrastructure (environmental) and it differs across LIC, MIC, and HIC.

-Basic systems and faciltiies needed for a country, such as roads, transport, electricity, water supply, sewerage, and telecommunications.

LIC: Limited infrastructure - many people, especially in rural areas, lack access to reliable roads, electricity, clean water, sewerage systems, and telecommunications

MIC: Infrastructure is developing and access is improving, but signficant gaps may remain, particiualrly in rural areas and urbans lums

HIC: Extensive and reliable infrastructure, including well-developed transport netowrks, electricity grids, piped water, sewerage systems, and telecommunications.

Define levels of carbon dioxide emissions (environmental) and how it differs across LIC, MIC, and HIC.

-The amount of carbon dioxide (CO2) released into the atmosphere from activities such as industry, transport, and energy production.

LIC: Low levels of CO2 emissions per person due to lower levels of industrialisation, but often experience signifcant impacts of climate change.

MIC: Moderate and increasing levels of CO2 emissions as industrialisation and economic development occurr.

HIC: High levels of CO2 emissions per person due to graeter industrial activity, transport use, and energy consumption.

Define human development

Creating an environment in which people can develop to theri full potential and lead productive, creative lives according to their needs and interests.

What are the six essential elements of Human Development?

-Participate in the decisions that affect their lives

-Lead long and healthy lives

-Lead productive and creative lives according to their needs and intersts

-Access knowledge and expand their choices and capabilities

-Access resources needed for a decent standard of living, such as housding and a reliable food and water supply

-Participate in the life of the community.

(Cannot answer a HD question without linking it to one of thse elements, linking isn’t final step - give examples of what each element allows people to do)

What does living a long and healthy life allow people to do?

-Work for longer periods and generate an income, supporting their ability to purchase resources for a decent standard of living such as healthcare and nutrtious food.

What does leading productive and creative lives according to needs and interests allow people to do?

-Achieve goals such as careers and hobbies

-Create opportunities for choice of education/occupation

-Access to services and care relevant to their needs

What does access to knowledge allow people to do?

-Become health literate and make informed decisions

-Can pursue further education due to adequate literacy/numeracy skills

What does a decent standard of living allow people to do?

-Increased freedom of choice

-Safe water supply keeps people free of disease, thus assisting in a decent standard of living.

What does participating in the life of the community allow people to do?

-Make new connections at sports clubs

-Be able to volunteer at charity events

What does participating in decisions that affect their lives allow people to do?

-Choosing the type of career they want

-Increase their ability to have daily life choices = work, food.

Define Human Development Index

A tool developed by the UN to measure and rank countries’ level of social and economic development. It provides a single statistic based on three dimensions - a long and healthy life, knowledge, and a decent standard of living - and four indicators - life expectancy at birth, mean years of schooling, expected years of schooling, and GNI per capita.

What are the 3 dimensions and 4 indicators of the HDI

1- A long and healthy life (D), measured by life expectancy at birth (I)

2- Knowledge (D) measured by mean years of schooling and expected years of schooling (I)

3- A decent standard of living (D) measured by Gross National income per capita (I).

Define life expectancy at birth

The numbers of years of life, on average, remaining to an individual at a particular age if death rates do not change

Define mean years of schooling

The average number of years of formal education achieved by those aged 25 years and over.

Define mean expected years of schooling

The number of years of formal education expected for a child of school-entrance age

Define gross national income (GNI) per capita

The overall income of a country after expenses owing to other coutnries have paid, divided by the populatoin of the country.

What are the 4 categories of HDI?

0-1 scale; 0 for lowest and 1 for the highest level of human development

Less than 0.550 - low HD

0.550 - 0.699 -medium HD

0.700 - 0.799 -high HD

0.800 + - very high HD

What is the issue with the HDI?

-For many countries, high average incomes correlate to a higher HDI; however, greater incomes do not necessarity relate to greater opportunities for education and health.

For example - Quatar has a high GNI (GNI per capita) but has a low ‘mean years of schooling’.

Explain three advantages of the HDI

-Takes more than just average incomes into account, so it provides a more comprehensive representation of the level of HD experienced

-Provides an indication of opportunities for education, which reflects access to knowledge and the ability to enhance choices and capabilities.

What are three disadvantages of the HDI?

-Human development (HD) is a complex concept and encompasses many apsects of human lives. The HDI only reflects selected aspects of HD and therefore does nto capture the richness and depth of HD - aspects of HD that are not measured by the HDI index include gender equality; freedom of spech

-The HDI, although moving beyond economic indicators, is still based on averages and therefore does not provide an indication of the inequalities that exist within countries. Those from cultural minorities, females, those with disabilities and those in rural areas often experience lower levels of human development than the rest of the population.

-No survey data is collected for the HDI, so people’s feelings about theur lives and the issues facing comunities are not reflected, including social, emotional, mental and spiritual health and wellbeing, and feelings about physical safety which are important aspects of people’s lives.