Assessment Of The Effectiveness Of Social And Economic Indicators Of Development

Question 1

How do we measure development?

Answer 1

Using economic and social indicators.

Question 2

What is the purpose of economic indicators?

Answer 2

To tell us roughly if a country is rich or poor.

Question 3

What is the drawback of economic indicators?

Answer 3

They often hide extremes, such as those extremely poor in wealthy countries.

Question 4

What is the purpose of social indicators?

Answer 4

To give us an average idea of the level of education that most people receive in a country.

Question 5

What is drawback of social indicators?

Answer 5

They are average figures which hide variations in society, such as the fact that more boys than girls go to school in LEDCs.

Question 6

What can using only one indicator of development be?

Answer 6

Misleading.

Question 7

What does HDI stand for?

Answer 7

Human Development Index

Question 8

Why was the HDI established?

Answer 8

To combine indicators of development to give a more reliable overview of a country’s economic and social situation.

Question 9

What three aspects does the HDI combine?

Answer 9

1. Life expectancy (measure of health)
2. Adult literacy rate (measure of education)
3. GDP per person (measure of wealth)

Question 10

What does GDP stand for?

Answer 10

Gross Domestic Product.

Question 11

Describe three advantages of the HDI.

Answer 11

1. Does not rely only on wealth as an indicator. It informs us about the quality of life by including health and education as well.
2. Informs us about a country’s potential future development by including education. It also informs us about what a country has already achieved in terms of healthcare and wealth.
3. Reveals how rich countries spend their wealth (e.g. A country rich in oil that spends little on education has a low HDI despite having a high GNI)