Human development, the HDI and sustainable development
Human development puts people at the centre and is measured by the HDI. Sustainable development meets today's needs without harming future generations.
Human development
Economic development looks mainly at income. Human development is wider. It means widening people's choices and raising their well-being in every part of life: economic, social, political, cultural and more. It puts people at the centre of development. Growth matters, but so do its quality and fair sharing. The Pakistani economist Dr Mahbub ul Haq introduced the idea as development that enlarges people's choices. The Indian Nobel laureate Professor Amartya Sen described it as development that increases freedoms.
The Human Development Index
| Dimension | What is measured (as in your lesson) |
|---|---|
| A long and healthy life | Life expectancy at birth |
| Knowledge and education | Adult literacy rate, and the combined gross enrolment ratio for primary, secondary and higher education |
| A decent standard of living | GDP per capita at purchasing power parity (PPP) in US dollars |
How the HDI is used
- The UNDP (United Nations Development Programme) has published the Human Development Report since 1990, usually every year.
- It ranks countries by their progress on the three dimensions.
- In the reports your lesson quotes, India was in the medium human development group. Check recent figures for its current rank.
- The Government of India has also worked out state-wise HDI figures. They show wide gaps between states.
- The UNDP has since updated the indicators: education is now measured by mean and expected years of schooling, and living standard by gross national income (GNI) per capita. The three dimensions stay the same.
Activity: read the HDI map and place your state
- 1Find your state on the state-wise HDI map in your NIOS lesson, or on a recent one, and note its HDI group.
- 2Pick one state with a very high HDI and one with a low HDI, and write their names.
- 3List three factors behind the difference, such as literacy, health care and income.
- 4Suggest three steps to raise HDI in low-HDI states, such as more schools, health centres and jobs.
- 5Record your answers in a small table: state, HDI group, reasons and suggested steps.
Sustainable development
Minerals and fuels such as coal and petroleum may last only a few decades at today's rate of use. Using them up would be unfair to future generations. Sustainable development answers this problem. It is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. It is not only about the environment. It covers economic, social, individual and environmental development. Its main goal is a fair level of well-being for all, including disadvantaged groups, that can last for many generations.
Rainwater harvesting on rooftops, solar pumps on farms and LED bulbs help meet today's needs while saving resources for the future. State-wise HDI figures help governments see which districts need more schools and health centres.
3 marks: “How is human development different from the traditional idea of economic development?” (1) Economic development focuses on income; human development covers every part of life. (2) Human development puts people at the centre and aims to widen their choices and freedoms. (3) It sees growth as necessary but stresses its quality and fair sharing, and it is measured by the HDI.
2 marks: “Name the three dimensions of the Human Development Index.” A long and healthy life, knowledge and education, and a decent standard of living.
2 marks: “What is sustainable development? Is it only about the environment?” Development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. It is not only about the environment: it covers economic, social, individual and environmental development.
HDI = the 3 Ls: Long life, Learning, Living standard.