More details on UNDP Human Development Index

Here is the link
http://hdr.undp.org/docs/statistics/indices/stat_feature_1.pdf#measuringhumandevelopment

Human development index ... here is an interesting excerpt and select quotes from the Human Development Report 2004 published by UNDP.

"The human development index (HDI) focuses
on three measurable dimensions of human
development:
- living a long and healthy life,
- being educated and
- having a decent standard of living "

Thus it is supposedly combines measures of life expectancy, school enrolment, literacy and income to allow a broader view of a country’s development than does income alone.

And the report itself states the below ....

"Although the HDI is a useful starting point, it is important to remember that the concept of human development is much broader and more complex than any summary measure can capture, even when supplemented by other indices.

The HDI is not a comprehensive measure. It does not include important aspects of human development, notably the ability to participate in the decisions that affect one’s life and to enjoy the respect of others in the community. A person can be rich, healthy and well educated, but without this ability human development is impeded. The omission of this dimension of human development from the HDI has been highlighted since the first Human Development Reports—and drove the creation of a human freedom index in 1991 and a political freedom index in 1992. Neither measure survived past its first year, a testament to the difficulty of adequately quantifying such complex aspects of human development. "

Why Grow ? What is development ??

Growth... Growth is proclaimed as the key to the development !!

Every one is looking all over the world for only one thing, how to keep growing !! bigger, better, more powerful, more richer, more popular and supposely more happier !!

No one, Ok may be I am exaggerating, but really I mean barring a few handfuls, no one in this world is satisfied with maintaining a status quo or preserving what we have, this includes you, me and everyone around us !!

See for example, what the Bureau of Economic Analysis, US Govt says :

Gross domestic product (GDP) is the most comprehensive measure of U.S. economic activity.

http://www.bea.gov/bea/dn/home/gdp.htm

Ok, let's for a minute not debate whether growth is good or not, and move on to next. If we consider growth is required, then questions is whether a normal growth rate is just sufficient ??.

No way !!! every where there is scrambling for a need to have exponential growth.. There are thousands of examples to prove this again, for the sake of it here is the popular example, Moore's law and what Intel says on its web site ..

" Moore observed an exponential growth in the number of transistors per integrated circuit and predicted that this trend would continue. Through Intel's relentless technology advances, Moore's Law, the doubling of transistors every couple of years, has been maintained, and still holds true today. Intel expects that it will continue at least through the end of this decade. The mission of Intel's technology development team is to continue to break down barriers to Moore's Law." - http://www.intel.com/research/silicon/mooreslaw.htm

When I say, every where it means all configurations whether it's countries, socieities, companies or individuals... all of the active universe want to grow at exponential rates if it is possible or given a choice,

The question is Why ?
(I learnt through my basic industrial engineering background that to get to basic root of a problem, don't stop with one why ? ask multipe why's ? , so let's do it !!!)

1. Why Grow ? ... to be rich ! or to be better !! or to progress !!! (you can go on and on ...)
2. Why be Rich ? ... Why be better ? .. Why not be content with status quo ?
3. What is Progress ? How do we measure we progressed or not, especially when you argue in favor of growth ?
4. What are the measures of development ?
5. Does the measures of development that are in use really reflect the trends we want to pass on to the generations ahead of us ?

Is it the social ability (or rather money) for all members of a country to be able to afford a beautiful house, car, spend time on lavish vacations ?

Is it having great infrastructure - well built roads or transportation network, organized facilities to provide any kind of service, modern buildings, clean surroundings, easy access within community, well zoned layouts ?

Is it having maintaining great health standards with in a country interms of - great hospitals, qualified super specialists, advanced medical diagnosis, effective drugs and treatment options ?

Let's look at more of these in my future blogs and see if we can take an informed look at the truth behind so-called development and its measures..

Focus first

I always struggled with my own mental diary of thoughts, and wished there was some better way to structure and store them... until I figured out almost a week back on the blogs. A great concept!! Looked at some interesting, boring, weird ones... and thought why not my own ?

Briefly I will state the focus of my blog(as I think without a well stated objective, the blog can run amuck and waste everyone's time) and also hope that I will be able to stick to this until a better one comes around..

"I worry where this world and all of us are headed towards in the name of development ... and wonder whether we the larger collecive souls of this world can make it any better.

If we consider this life as the never ending relay race passed on from generation to generations, there have been times some passed it to the next better than how they received it, some maintained the status-quo, while some did worse. I think this is my effort towards handing over the life baton to the next generation in a better shape than how I received mine. Wish me (and you) good luck !!"

SM