Human Development and the Human Development Index (HDI)

What is human development?

Is about creating an environment in which people can develop to their full potential and lead productive, creative lives according to their needs and interests. It is about expanding people’s choices and enhancing their capabilities, having access to knowledge, health and a decent standard of living and participating in their life of their community and decisions affecting their lives.

(Human development is a command term, if it gets asked I need to include elements/aspects of human development.)

What does Human Development intend to do (characteristics)?

Create an environment that can:

-Lead long and healthy lives.

-Participate in the decisions that affect their lives.

-Participate in the life of the community.

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

-Access knowledge and expand their choices and capabilities.

-Lead productive and creative lives according to their needs and interests.

What is HDI (Human Development Index)?

-HDI is a measuring tool that attempts to reflect the level of human development being experienced in different countries (need to add indicators and dimensions in a definition).

-It uses three dimensions and four indicators to create an index.

-HDI is a number between zero and one.

-The closer to one a country’s score is, the greater the level of development experienced is.

What are the dimensions of HDI?

A long and healthy life- Life expectancy at birth.

Knowledge- Many years of schooling, expected years of schooling.

A decent standard of living- Gross National Income per capita.

(When a question asks about HDI, I need to use HDI indicators.)

What are the four indicators?

Life expectancy at birth, mean years of schooling, expected years of schooling, Gross National Income (GNI).

What is life expectancy at birth?

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

What are mean years of schooling?

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

What is expected years of schooling?

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

What is GNI?

The overall income of a country after expenses owing to other countries have been paid, divided by the population of the country.

What are the advantages of HDI?

-HDI is a composite statistics (various information combined into a single statistic, must explain this) makes comparisons easier.

-Considers more than just incomes, so provides a more comprehensive representation of the level of human development experienced.

What are the disadvantages of HDI?

-No survey data collected so people’s feelings about wellbeing, issues and safety are not considered.

-Collecting data is complex and the reliability of date for reassuring human development remains a challenge. Comparisons between countries are often difficult because of the different definitions and methods used in measuring key components of the HDI.

What is GNI per capita?

Refers to the income of all residents from a country divided by its population, giving an average income for a single person of that country.

What is a high income country?

Australia- $62,920.

What is a upper middle income country?

China- $13,390.

What is a lower middle income country?

India- $2203.99.

What is a low income country?

Uganda- $935.41.

What are economic characteristics?

-A range of factors relating to the financial or economic state of a country.

This consists of: high average income, opportunities for global trade, lower levels of poverty, wide range of industries.

What is extreme poverty?

It is considered to be living on less than US $2.15.

How are countries impacted by a wide range of industries?

High-income countries: wide range of industries (e.g. mining, manufacturing, education, healthcare).

Low-income countries: often have a limited range of industries (e.g. agriculture).

How are countries impacted by opportunities for global trade?

Low-income countries: reduced range of industries limits ability to provide goods and services and to other countries require.

High-income countries: often have access to infrastructure (roads, ports, airports), knowledge and experience needed for buying and selling to other countries.

What are social characteristics?

Refer to the collective conditions and values that people maintain in the country.

This consists of: access technology, develop legal systems, high level of gender equality, developed social security systems, developed health systems, low birth rates and population growth, high levels of employment, high levels of education.

How are countries impacted by gender equality?

High-income countries: higher levels of gender equality with both males and females having the opportunities and choices in education, employment and communication participation.

How are countries impacted by birth and population rates?

Low-income countries: high birth rates (having many children) can make it difficult for parents to care for their children.

How do education and employment levels impact countries?

Low-income countries: many do not have a developed education system and parents often have to pay for education which makes its restrictive.

What are environmental characteristics?

Refer to the conditions of the physical surroundings that people inhabit.

-This consists of: high levels of carbon dioxide emissions, adequate infrastructure, adequate housing, food security, access to safe water and sanitation.

How does food security affect countries?

Low-income countries: often less food available and also more affected by natural disasters which can impact on food availability.

How does adequate housing affect countries?

Low-income countries: more likely to experience poor ventilation, lack of heating/cooling, lack of cooking facilities.

How does adequate infrastructure?

High-income countries: quality roads, piped water, sewerage systems, electricity grid, and telecommunication systems.

What is double burden of disease?

Refers to the coexistence of communicable diseases associated with poverty and non-communicable diseases associated with wealth.

What are factors that contribute to similarities and differences in health status and human development?

Sanitation, poverty, discrimination and safe water.

What is safe water?

Refers to water that is not contaminated with disease-causing pathogens and viruses.

What is the purpose of safe water?

-Consumption.

-Food preparation and cooking.

-Washing and hygiene.

-Agriculture and production.

How are countries impacted by safe water?

-Less likely to have access to infrastructure to supply clean drinking water effectively.

-Governments often lack strict controls on water control and monitoring.

What are water-borne diseases?

-Gastroenteritis, diarrhoea, and cholera.

-Easily transmitted to people, especially children.

-Causes loss of education due to days absent from school.

-Often women have to walk long distances to collect water.

-Makes it hard to look after children.

-Leads to musculoskeletal conditions.

How can a lack of infrastructure for water be unsafe?

Safe water sources often require infrastructure such as tanks and wells to safely store water. Without this infrastructure, water is unable to flow and become stagnant and contaminated. Drinking this water can transmit diseases such as diarrhoea, cholera, dysentery, typhoid and polio.

How does access to safe water impact health status?

-Access to safe water decreases mortality rates associated with diarrhoeal disease, cholera, dysentery, typhoid, and polio. This, in turn, ensures that less people are dying prematurely from these diseases, increasing life expectancy.

-Women who walk long distances to collect water may develop musculoskeletal conditions.

-Lack of safe water causes children to miss school days (collecting water or ill health).

What is sanitation?

Refers to the provision of facilities and services for the safe disposal of human urine and faeces, but can also refer to the maintenance of hygienic conditions through services such as garbage collection and waste water disposal.

-Inadequate sanitation is one of the main causes of contaminated water supplies.

-Many low-income schools do not have toilet facilities which means girls don’t attend, especially when they are menstruating.

What should a link to health status include?

-A reference to the factor, a statement that clarifies the similarity or difference, how the factor contributes to disease or injury and a specific link to an aspect of health status.

E.g.

-Lack of access to safe water.

-Is more common in low-income countries compared to high-income countries.

-This means that people are more likely to consume contaminated water and contract conditions such as cholera.

-This increases the risk of premature mortality and contributes to rates of morbidity.

What is poverty?

-Refers to deprivation which is caused by a lack of income.

A lack of poverty influences: food shelter, clean water, healthcare, social inclusion and education.

-Low-income countries have lower GNI which means the government can’t collect as much tax to spend on providing clean water, sanitation, health services, public education and social security measures (welfare, pension, disability payments).

How does nutrition affect countries?

-Malnutrition is often the result of an inability to afford nutritious food.

-Increases the risk of premature death, especially among children and pregnant mothers.

How does education affect countries?

-Low levels of education cause low employment rates.

-This reduces the opportunities for global trade.

-This includes lower levels of health-literacy, which is a risk factor for mortality and morbidity from HIV/AIDS.

-In many countries many low-income country families have to pay for education which only the wealthy can afford for their children to be educated.

How does healthcare affect countries?

Few countries have a universal healthcare scheme like Medicare so only those who can afford to pay for healthcare can receive treatment.

How does housing affect countries?

-Low income country houses use solid fuels like coal and wood for indoor heating but do not have adequate ventilation which causes indoor aid pollution.

-This increases the risk of pneumonia, chronic respiratory disease and lung cancer.

-There is also sometimes a lack of protection from the environment so mosquitoes can easily spread malaria.

-More exposed to the cold/heat which can cause pre-existing conditions to become more fatal (e.g. heart or lung conditions).

What is inequality?

Refers to an uneven distribution of resources or differing circumstances.

What is discrimination?

Refers to the unjust treatment of people due to their membership within a certain social category.

What is race?

Inequality and discrimination often occur due to racial differences within a population group.

What is religion?

Inequality and discrimination can be experienced by people of a particular religious orientation within a population group.

What is sex?

Inequality and discrimination can be targeted towards people of a particular sex.

What is sexual orientation?

Refer to the preference for a romantic or sexual partner of a gender identity or sex.

What is gender identity?

Refers to an individual’s own understanding of their gender as masculine, feminine or other.

How is race affected by discrimination?

-Indigenous people suffer higher rates of ill health, disability and mortality.

-A lack of cultural understanding and sensitivity prevent access to healthcare for many Indigenous people.

-Victims of racial discrimination can become displace from their homes and be forced to live as refugees.

How is religion affected by discrimination?

This often results in an inability to participate in the community, such as accessing public education, health services and employment.

How is sex affected by discrimination?

Females often have less access and control over resources than men in low-income countries, e.g. far less women involved in politics.

What is sustainability?

Meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. This refers to meeting today’s needs and planning the country’s growth without creating problems or depleting resources for future generations.

What are the dimensions of sustainability?

Environmental, social and economic.

What is economic sustainability?

Means ensuring that average incomes in all countries are adequate to sustain a decent standard of living and continue to rise in line with inflation and living costs in the future.

What are some examples of economic sustainability?

Ensuring that all people can earn a decent income- this allows people to purchase health promoting resources including food, shelter, education and basic healthcare.

Ensuring children can stay in school- economic sustainability means children will not be forced into labour due to poverty; instead they may remain at school, increasing their ability to lead lives they value in accordance with their needs and interests.

What is social sustainability?

Is about ensuring an equitable society in which all people have access to social resources both today and in the future.

-An estimate of 150 children work in agriculture, fishing, manufacturing, mining and domestic service, some children work in illicit activities such as the drug trade and prostitution.

What are some considerations for achieving social sustainability?

Promote equality through the elimination of poverty and the provision of social protection systems, gender equality, peace and security, promotion of political and legal rights, access to safe and decent working conditions.

What is social protection?

Assistance provided by governments to vulnerable people to meet basic needs such as income, food and housing.

What is gender equality?

Means more educated people working productively, which promotes economic sustainability, an essential component of overall sustainability.

What is environmental sustainability?

Ensuring the natural environment is used in a way that will preserve resources in the future.

What are the considerations for achieving environmental sustainability?

Biodiversity, climate change, waste removal and pollution, use of natural resources.

What is biodiversity?

The variety of different plants, animals and microorganisms, their genes and the ecosystems of which they form a part.

What are renewable resources?

Resources that are replenished naturally over a relatively short period; includes crops, water oxygen, forests and fish stocks.

What are non-renewable resources?

Resources that are not replenished in a short period, so once they are used they are not available for future generations; includes coal, natural gas, petroleum and nuclear substances.

What is waste removal and pollution?

Maintaining clean ecosystems is important in maintaining environmental sustainability. They are responsible for producing clean water and air. Industry, agriculture and human waste can degrade the quality of these resources by contaminating the ecosystems that produce them.

What are the impacts of climate change?

The global average surface temperature has increased approximately 1.1 degrees Celsius since 1880, with the past nine years being the hottest since modern records began in 1880.

What is the relationship between the three dimensions of sustainability?

-E.g equal access to safe water is an aspect of social sustainability but relies heavily on environmental sustainability to ensure clean water is available.

-The environmental aspect of sustainability is considered the largest dimension of sustainability because social and economic sustainability depend on it.

What is an example of what happens when all three dimensions are not considered?

-Because they are related, failure to consider one dimension will affect the others.

-For example, a country might have a high income due to the oil reserves they are mining. However, oil reserves (reduced environmental sustainability), so this source of income will shrink in the future (reduced economic sustainability). Reduced income could lead to fewer economic resources available for public education, which has an impact on economic sustainability.

What are global trends?

Patterns of social, environmental and economic activity that affect many countries and require action to be taken at a global level.

What is climate change?

-Climate change is about long-term shifts in temperature and weather patterns.

How is global warming caused?

-Greenhouse gases trap heat that is radiated from the sun (this acts as a blanket wrapped around the earth) resulting in global warming.

What has global warming led to?

-It is causing the melting of glaciers and ice sheets that cover Antarctica and Greenland this has led to:

-Rising sea levels, changing weather patterns, more intense and frequent extreme weather events such as floods, cyclones and heatwaves.

-Climate change leads to an increase in mortality rates of diarrhoea.

How does rising sea levels impact relocation of people living in coastal areas?

Results in loss of housing, villages, communities and farmlands.

How does rising sea levels cause less availability of fresh water?

As sea levels increase, saltwater seeps into fresh underground water source known as aquifers (freshwater springs).

How does rising sea levels cause reduced ability to grow food?

-Salt water is unsuitable for most trees, plants and crops.

-Seeds, grains, fruit and vegetables that we currently grow will no longer be able to grow in many areas.

-As oceans get warmer, they also become more acidic. This reduces food supply for those who rely on fish and seafood as their main source.

How does rising sea levels cause changes in biodiversity?

Rising sea levels and salinity interrupt the ecosystem and threaten the many systems that sustain life.

How does rising sea levels causing changing weather patterns?

When weather stays the same for days or weeks at a time.

What do changing weather patterns consist of?

Rainfall changes, changing seasonal patterns, temperature changes.

What do extreme weather events consist of?

Storms and cyclones, extreme heat, floods, droughts, fires.

What is displacement?

Displaced people are those who are forced to leave their home because of war or persecution.

What is persecution?

Hostility or ill-treatment on the basis of religion, political beliefs, sexual orientation, etc.

How do conflicts impact health status?

-Armed conflict directly kills, injures and traumatises, women and children.

-Reduces life expectancy and HALE, contributes to high mortality and morbidity.

How does armed conflict impact health status?

-This all stems from armed conflict, laying of landmines, investment in defence rather than health, welfare and education, and destruction of infrastructure: health facilities, water and sanitation, electricity, etc.

-The burden of disease associated with injuries if high; young adult males are often overrepresented among those killed or permanently disabled.

-Destroyed/damaged healthcare facilities leads to injuries and diseases being left untreated.

-Crops are destroyed by landmines, which leads to high BOD due to malnutrition.

How is physical health impacted by conflict?

-Destruction of physical environment and infrastructure; limited access to food, water, shelter and health services.

-Increase risk of hunger, poor immune system functioning.

-Rape, sexual violence, sexual exploitation, trafficking and sexual slavery of women and girls are more common in times of conflict.

-Personal injuries.

What is mass migration?

When people are forced to leave their homes due to crisis, such as conflict, persecution, violations of their human rights and issues relating to climate change.

What are the types of people that are migrating?

Refugees, asylum seekers, internally displaced persons, stateless persons.

What are refugees?

People who have fled their country and crossed an international border in order to find safety in another country.

What are asylum seekers?

People who have fled their country but for whom their request for protection in another country has yet to be processed.

What are internally displaced persons?

Forced to leave their home but have not crossed a border to find safety, on the run in their own country.

What are stateless persons?

Do not have the nationality of any country and therefore are not protected.

Why is mass migration associated with poorer health status?

-Refugees are often forced into crowded and unclean living conditions in refugee camps, with a lack of health services, shortages of food and water.

-Long-term impact of the trauma and fear associated results in high BOD due to depression, anxiety and PTSD.

-As access to health services are limited, chronic disease prevention and treatment are unavailable or not to be accessed.

-This increase the incidence and prevalence of non-communicable diseases.

What is globalisation?

The process in which boundaries between countries are reduced or eliminated allowing individuals, groups and companies to act on a global scale.

-It can be described as transforming into a global society.

What are global trends?

Cigarettes, e-cigs, processed foods are global trends.

Why are e-cigs bad for you?

-Since cigarette sales have fallen, tobacco companies are aggressively marketing e-cigarette products and lobbying governments to limit their regulation.

-The aerosol that users inhale includes a range of metals and substances that can increase the incidence and prevalence of diseases, such as: cardiovascular disease, cancer (particularly lung cancer) and diseases of the nervous system and respiratory system.

Why are processed foods bad for you?

-Processed foods are any food item that have been deliberately changed before being made available to eat.

-Others contain significant amounts of added salt, sugar, and/or fat that should only be consumed sometimes, these are referred to as ultra proccessed foods.

-Ultra processed foods are designed for maximum profit, are quick and convenient and have long shelf lives.

-They contain cheap ingredients are energy dense and high in sugars, refined starches, unhealthy fats and sodium.

What is tourism?

-Refers to activities that people get involved in when they travel to stay in places they do not usually live.

-Visiting tourist attractions, engaging in cultural experiences, exploring new places.

-It is one of the worlds fastest growing industries.

-Tourism includes accommodation, sightseeing, entertainment and experiencing the local culture, food and traditions.

What are the economic advantages of tourism?

Plays a key role in developing jobs for local people and improves living standards.

What are the social advantages of tourism?

Promotes mutual understanding, peace and security by breaking down barriers that exist between cultures, and provides opportunities to build trust and peace.