(2) Mahbub-ul-Haq

The concept of the Human Development Index (HDI) was developed by Pakistani economist Mahbub-ul-Haq. The Human Development Index is a composite statistical measure that assesses a country's average achievements in three basic dimensions of human development: health, education, and standard of living. It has become a widely used and influential tool for comparing the overall development levels of different countries.

Purpose:

• The primary purpose of the HDI is to provide a more comprehensive measure of human well-being by considering not only economic factors but also health and education.

Components of HDI:

• The HDI is calculated based on three key dimensions:
  • Health (Life Expectancy at Birth): Reflects the average number of years a person is expected to live at birth.
  • Education (Mean Years of Schooling and Expected Years of Schooling): Measures the average number of years of education received by people aged 25 years and older, as well as the number of years of schooling a child entering school can expect to receive.
  • Standard of Living (Gross National Income per Capita): Represents the average income per person, adjusted for purchasing power parity.

Global Reports:

• The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) releases an annual Human Development Report that includes the HDI rankings of countries worldwide. This report provides insights into global development trends and highlights disparities and progress.