Human development Index (me falta medium HDI country effect of its political system)

HDI - what is it and how do we measure it?

it is used to compare the level of social and economic development in different countries.

To calculate the countries position in the index it uses the following categories:

• Life expectancy at birth

• Expected years of schooling for children

• Mean years of schooling for adults

• Income per person (GNI)

  • GNI is an indicative of the standard of living of the avrg citizen.

  • Generally, high GNI = higher life expectancy, more literate, better access to safe water and experience lower rates of infant mortality

Gross national income (GNI)

The total value of goods and services made by the country in one year (including profits made in foreign countries)

Infant mortality

Standard of living

Number of deaths of children under the age of 1

The amount of wealth and material comfort available to a person or community

What is the link between democracy and development? Are there any exceptions?

Generally, the more democratic a country is, the more developed it is.

There are exceptions:

• Autocracies but are developed (high HDI): Saudi Arabia (petrol and oil reserves), the UAE (oil and gas), Brunei (oil and gas), Qatar are (gas).

• China (high HDI): not very democratic (authoritarian) but developed and continues developing = global trade and investment in technology drives growth

• India (medium HDI): pretty democratic but quite underdeveloped.

Case study: Mali low HDI (impact of diff political systems in communities and individuals)

• Hybrid democracy: authoritarian and democratic features

  • President has a lot of power + elections are still reasonably free

  • Weak institutions because of concentration of power in the executive branch of government and its lack of accountability to both citizens and other branches of government.

  • Corruption high = negatively affects the economy by impeding the growth of the private sector and the activities of entrepreneurs.

• Literacy rate ~35%

  • People can’t read → citizens can’t make informed decisions and vote “fairly”

    • may vote based on other things (e.g ethnic ties) rather than issues

    • be easily manipulated (corruption high in Mali)

  • Result: Leaders aren’t held accountable, so policies may ignore public needs (e.g., rural poverty).

• Poverty high (worse in rural areas, ~90% of them live under the poverty line)

  • Can’t invest in education, healthcare, etc

    • Low literacy → Few skilled workers → Weak economy → Less tax revenue for public services (e.g., schools, clean water).

    • Poor health → less children able to go to school

  • Poverty → high drop out rates (early marriage or to work)

  • Result: persistent poverty limits access and continues poverty cycle = reinforcing low HDI

• Periods of droughts and floods = wash away crops and homes → worse living conditions

• Poor basic services and high mortality

  • Tot 20 million, 12 million don’t have access to adequate sanitation & 4 million no safe drinking water

    • Waterborne (communicable) diseases (cholera and hepatitis) + high infant mortality

    • Loss of human capita

Study case: Pakistan medium HDI (impact of diff political systems in communities and individuals)

• Hybrid regime

Case study: Denmark high HDI (impact of diff political systems in communities and individuals)

• Constitutional monarchy + full democracy

  • High voter turnout (80-90%) indicates citizen’s engagement (they care) = demonstrators that policies addresses public needs

  • Shows government accountability

• Strong welfare system = good quality of life

  • High taxation (45% average income tax) funds services shows a collective commitment to improve social overall quality of life for all.

  • Spends approx 5.5% of its GDP on education and ~10% on healthcare = not just free also ensure quality

    • Free healthcare: increased life expectancy + healthy means can attend school means more skilled & productive workforce

    • Free education (ages 6-16 free and compulsory): literacy rates ~99%

      ages 16-19 free, not compulsory. Free uni for Denmark and EU

      Reduced inequalities + educated people employed easily (even more if higher education) + fuels innovation