development indicators

• What does GDP stand for?

  Gross Domestic Product
• What does GNI stand for?

  Gross National Income
• How is GDP measured?

  It is the total value of all goods and services produced by a country during a year.
• What additional income does GNI include compared to GDP?

  Income from overseas investment such as TNCs (Transnational Corporations).
• What are some examples of GDP per capita values for different countries?

  • Switzerland: $125,210
  • Luxembourg: $118,600
  • Ireland: $79,130
  • United States: $78,170
  • Faroe Islands: $74,420
  • Isle of Man: $70,100
• How is the birth rate calculated?


  It is calculated by taking the total number of live births per 1000 people for a given time period divided by the length of time in years.
• What is the crude birth rate of Niger?

  37 per 1000
• What is the crude birth rate of South Korea?

  5 per 1000
• What are the advantages of using GDP/GNI per capita as an economic measure?

  • Allows comparison of economic performance across countries.
  • Shows average income per person.
  • Data is regularly collected by organizations like the World Bank and IMF.
  • Easy to track economic growth.
  • Component of HDI, which includes education and life expectancy.
• What are the disadvantages of using GDP/GNI per capita?

  • Hides inequalities within a country.
  • Focuses solely on economic output and income.
  • Ignores informal sector activities.
  • Can rise at the expense of environmental sustainability.
• Why is GDP/GNI per capita not sufficient alone for assessing development?

  It does not account for income inequality, non-economic factors, and quality of life.
• How do population policies affect birth rates?

  Policies like China's one-child policy can significantly reduce birth rates.
• What factors contribute to lower birth rates in more developed countries?

  • Improved access to healthcare and contraception.
  • Better job opportunities for women.
  • Lower rates of early marriage and childbearing.
• What factors contribute to higher birth rates in less developed countries?

  • Dominance of the primary sector.
  • Children can be employed in agriculture/resource exploitation.
  • Lack of access to healthcare and contraception.
• What is the Human Development Index (HDI)?


  HDI is a composite index ranging from 0 (lowest) to 1 (highest) that measures development.
• What three factors are considered the most important in calculating HDI?

  Level of wealth (GDP adjusted for PPP), health (life expectancy), and education (literacy levels and school enrollment).
• What was the highest HDI score in 2010 and which country achieved it?

  0.938, achieved by Norway.
• What was the lowest HDI score in 2010 and which country achieved it?

  0.140, achieved by Zimbabwe.
• What are the advantages of the Happy Planet Index (HPI)?

  • Provides a holistic measurement of sustainable well-being.
  • Easy to calculate and accessible to policymakers.
  • Highlights the importance of human well-being.
  • Can guide government policies.
• What are the disadvantages of the Happy Planet Index (HPI)?

  • Data from developing countries may be unreliable.
  • Does not account for inequalities within countries.
  • Focuses on limited factors (health, education, income).
  • Can oversimplify complex development issues.
• How does the HPI help redefine national success?

  It helps people and leaders understand that good lives are possible without costing the earth.
• How does the life expectancy in Nicoya challenge traditional development indicators?

  Despite low income, Nicoya has one of the highest life expectancies, indicating that wealth does not always correlate with well-being.
• Why should HDI be used alongside other indicators?

  • To get a more holistic understanding of development.
  • It neglects important factors like gender equality and political stability.
  • Economic growth does not always equate to human well-being.
• What does the ecological footprint assess in the context of the HPI?

  • It focuses on resource usage and waste.
  • It does not directly capture economic development metrics.
  • Emphasizes sustainability but may contradict development goals.
• What is the significance of the HDI in global development discussions?

  • It is a widely used indicator for development.
  • Offers a well-rounded approach to human development.
  • Signifies that development includes social factors, not just economic growth.
• What is a limitation of the Happy Planet Index (HPI) regarding inequality within a country?


  It does not provide a clear indication of inequality within a country.
• Why is the HPI considered beneficial despite its limitations?

  Because it is not a wealth indicator and considers sustainability factors.
• What is the average life expectancy for a resident of Nicoya?

  It is 106 years.
• How does the life expectancy in Nicoya compare to its income level?

  Nicoya has one of the highest life expectancies despite being one of the lowest income areas in Costa Rica.
• What does the HPI capture about Costa Rica despite its low ranking in the Human Development Index?

  It captures the sustainability and high average life satisfaction in Costa Rica.
• What is the definition of literacy rate?

  It is the percentage of people aged 15 and older who can read and write and understand a basic statement about their daily lives.
• How is the literacy rate usually measured?

  It is usually measured mid-year for a specific country, territory, or geographic area.
• What is Costa Rica's HPI score?

  Costa Rica boasts the highest ranking HPI score of 62.1.
• What does the HPI illustrate about Costa Rica's economic development?

  It illustrates that the HPI is not a measure of economic development but rather of sustainability and life satisfaction.
• What percentage of adults from low-income countries are projected to be illiterate by 2030 according to UNESCO?

  30 percent.
• What are the advantages of using literacy rates to measure development?

  • Indicates economic growth potential
  • Reflects gender equality
  • Shows ability to adopt new technologies
  • Can lead to wage premiums for skilled individuals
• What are the limitations of using literacy rates as a measure of development?

  It does not account for the quality of education, diversity of educational attainment, and lifelong learning opportunities.
• Why is literacy difficult to apply for development in Saudi Arabia?

  Because the high literacy rate does not reflect higher education levels necessary for tertiary sector employment.
• How does the literacy rate in Bihar compare to that in Kerala, India?

  Bihar's literacy rate is 62%, while Kerala's is 94%.
• What is the global literacy rate for males and females?

  The global literacy rate is 86%, with 90% for males and 82% for females.