Health, Human Rights and Intervention - spec Flashcards
8.1A -GDP and Human Development
Introduce human development -
Traditionally, economic data such as GDP growth has been used to measure development, but development is now seen to include more than that.
Human development focuses on progress in terms of quality of life, not just wealth. It includes progress in freedom, equality and how content people are with their lives.
Why is GDP good/bad
GOOD - Economic growth drives other types of development, health and life expectancy can be increased by wealth
BAD - GDP gives a crude average which skews income distribution - inequality. 78% life satisfaciton in mexico (emerging) 37% Greeks (developed)
Happy Planet Index (HPI)
- combines environmental data on sustainability with social data on satisfaction on health
- Nothing on income
- Highest = costa rica 64
- Lowest = Chad 25
- However 2/3 of measures is based of subjective data. only life expectancy is fully reliable.
Welfare state vs Sharia Law vs Bolivia under Evo Morales
8.1B - Best Development Goals?
Improvements in environmental quality, health, life expectancy and human rights are seen by some (Hans Rosling) as more significant goals for development whilst economic growth is often the best means for achieving them.
He argued that improving health, life expectancy and environmental quality often unlocks people’s economic potential.
This mutual reinforcement between economic growth and improvements in human development reflects a positive feedback loop because the process amplifies itself over time. However, positive feedback loops in human development are often constrained or disrupted by factors like inequality, poor governance, and environmental degradation. e.g. bolivia under evo morales where subsidies undercut some prices and high taxes discourace TNCs.
8.1C - Education
Education is crucial to economic development as it increases the value of ‘human capital’ - a.k.a. producing a literate, numerate, enterprising and skilled workforce.
High incomes mean governments have the taxes to invest in education (investing in future human capital, which in turn increases future income.
Norway: 2013 Expected years in education - 17.6
Income per person $70,600 (2016)
Niger: 5.4 years, $360
Education varies because of poverty, and gender inequality in countries. UNESCO found that education is still inaccessible to over 60 million children of primary school age. over half are from sub saharan africa.
Gender inequality - in some cultures, where education costs money boys are priorities and girls are traditionally seen as working in the home.
8.2A - Variations in the Developing World
There are considerable variations in health and life expectancy across the developing world that are explained by differential access to basic needs, such as food, water supply and sanitation, which impact particularly on levels of infant and maternal mortality.
Why?
- Childhood diseases leading to poor cognitive development impacting education later on in life
- Diseases which can impact capacity to work and therefore reduce income
- Medical costs use up income which could be spent on food education and housing.
Example
Cuba’s life expectancy is the same as the USA’s because Cuba invested heavily in healthcare, water supplies and sanitation, reducing disease - despite its relative poverty.
Lesotho - 1.5 doctors per 10,000 people
8.2B - Variations in the Developed World
Lifestyles - Hong Kong have a good life expectancy due to the walking culture and emphasis on excersice. USA on the other hand have a high fat/sugar diet, and Russia have high levels of alcoholism especially in men.
Diet - Japanese and South Korean diets contain more fish, vegetables and rice than Western diets, which are high in meat protein, fat and sugar. Better diet may lead to lower levels of cancer, heart disease and skeletal/joint problems
Availability, cost and effectiveness of healthcare - Some countries, such as the UK, provide free healthcare for all (the NHS), which increases life expectancy. USA most people need expensive health insurance which not everyone can afford. The USA has the highest health spending per capita in the world, yet it has an infant mortality rate of 5.97 per 1000, only the 38th lowest.
in regards to effectiveness, cheaper and less modern medical care e.g. in Russia and Bulgaria is less effective having negative impacts on health and life expectancy
8.2C - Variations within Countries
Even those with free healthcare for all, there are still large variations in health and life expectancy, e.g. 71 in Manchester and 86 in Harrow.
Why?
- Post industrial cities male unemployment is high - low incomes and levels of smokign and alcohol consumption is higher than national average
- Diet among low income groups is often poor with cheap fast food favoured over fresh foods
- Combinaiton of low income and poor lifestyles leads to high levels of heart disease etc and hence lower LE
Ethnic variations
- Many Australian Aborigines live in isolated rural communities and have low-paid jobs. Levels of alcohol consumption, smoking and drug abuse are high. Food can be expensive in isolated communities, and access to healthcare is basic.
8.3A The Relationship Between Economic and Social Progress
The relationship between economic and social progress is complex and dependent on decisions made by governments on the importance of social progress; this ranges from welfare state with high levels of social spending to totalitarian regimes run by elites with low levels of spending on health and education.
Depending on their stage of development, societies can either prioritise:
Economic - Infrastructure spending to attract FDI or tourism
Human - Education, healthcare and benefits (e.g. 11.5% of GDP in france on health and 2.8% in bangladesh)
Or Environmental Development- Clean water, sanitation and protection of ecosystems
most governments do all of this but not equally,
Social Progress Index (SPI) quantifies how well governments provide for their people based on 3 factors:
Basic needs: Nutrition, water, safety.
Wellbeing: Education, life expectancy, pollution.
Opportunity: Rights, freedom, equality.
Examples:
Sweden & Costa Rica: High SPI due to democratic focus on welfare spending.
Russia & Ethiopia: Low SPI due to authoritarian regimes prioritizing elites over public welfare.
8.3B - IGOs and Development
IGOs (World Bank, IMF, WTO): Regional/global organizations managing economic development and global issues.
Neo-liberal principles promoted:
Free trade (minimal barriers).
Deregulation (money flows freely).
Privatization (state assets profit-focused).
Belief: Private wealth “trickles down” to aid development.
Drawbacks of neo-liberalism:
Benefits TNCs over people, increasing inequality.
Neglects rural areas and the environment.
Cuts health/education in Structural Adjustment Programmes (SAPs).
IGO Highlights:
World Bank: Funds development (e.g., infrastructure, education, renewable energy).
IMF: Stabilizes economies, restructured loans, and poverty reduction plans (e.g., Haiti).
WTO: Promotes free trade but has environmental conflicts (e.g., deforestation for palm oil).
8.3C - MDGs and SDGs
MDGs (2000–2015): 8 global goals aimed at improving lives in developing regions, e.g.:
Halve extreme poverty and hunger.
Universal primary education.
Reduce child and maternal mortality.
Successes:
Extreme poverty fell by 54%.
20 million deaths prevented through health targets (e.g., malaria, TB).
Infant mortality in Sub-Saharan Africa dropped by 53%.
Primary school enrolment rose to 91%.
2.1 billion gained sanitation access.
Drawbacks:
Only 1 goal fully achieved (safe drinking water access).
Success uneven (e.g., China’s progress masks gaps in South Asia, Africa).
Gender inequality, conflict, and slum housing persist.
Criticized for focusing on poverty reduction, not wealth creation.
The SDGs replaced the MDGs for the period 2015-2030. They are 17 global goals that apply to all countries, not just developing countries (as with the MDGs). They too set targets for basic needs, but in addition have to focus on sustainable development, including:
Sustainable cities and clean energy.
Decent work and fair wages.
Protecting oceans and ecosystems.
Key difference: SDGs emphasize sustainability but are not legally binding.
