University Assignment: Human Development Index and Report Analysis

This assignment analyzes the Human Development Index (HDI) and related reports, focusing on data exploration and visualization. It covers the HDI's dimensions (long and healthy life, knowledge, and a decent standard of living), composite indexes, and data from 1990 to 2017. The analysis includes comparisons of countries, regions, and the Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI). The assignment also examines environmental data in relation to the HDI, correlations between HDI and other indicators like health, education, and income, and the impact of carbon dioxide emissions. It discusses the relationship between income poverty and multidimensional poverty, the inclusion of environmental indicators, and the weighting of health, education, and income in the HDI. The document concludes with a discussion on land usage and the overall measurement of societal well-being.

Running head: HUMAN DEVELOPMENT INDEX AND REPORTS
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Human Development Index and Reports Paper
Student’s Name
Professor’s Name
Affiliation
Date

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Human Development Index and Reports
PART I: Introduction to UNDP-HDI
Q1
Three Dimension
1. Long and Healthy Life
2. Knowledge
3. A decent standard of living
Q2
A composite index is aggregated from the three dimensions through the use of geometric mean.
Q3
Indicators for Each of the Three Dimensions
1. Long and Healthy Life: Life expectancy at birth
2. Knowledge: Expected years of schooling and mean years of schooling
3. A decent standard of living: GNI per capita (PPP)
Q4
Basic dimension of human development void in HDI
(a). Empowerment

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(b).Human Security
(c).Poverty
(d). Inequalities
Q5
External factors like environmental sustainability are not considered in the computation of the
human development index (HDI)
Q6.
Addition Composite Indexes
1. Inequality-Adjusted Human Development Index (IHDI).
2. Gender Inequality Index (GII)
3. Multi-dimensional Poverty Index (MPI)
Q7
Additional levels of applicability
1. International level
2. Regional level
3. Urban/Rural level
Q8

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Development is defined as the formation of an enabling environment that will allow individuals
to enjoy creative, long, and healthy lives.
Q9
Breadth measures envelop all indicators of human development; while, focus measures only take
into account the basic dimensions of human development. The Human Development Index
(HDI) is categories as a focus measure i.e. composite index.
Q10
HDI is kept simple for the purpose of acceptability. A major drawback of keeping HDI simplistic
is fact that it makes the index a non-comprehensive measure of human development.
PART II: Data Exploration and Visualization
II.1 HDI Data Tables
Q1
Canada’s HDI rank in 2017: 12
Lowest-ranked country in 2017: Niger
Highest-ranked country in 2017: Norway
Q2
Country with largest positive change from 2012-2017 and its HDI classification: Ireland

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Its HDI classification (Low, Medium, High, Very High): Very high
Two countries with largest negative change from 2012-2017 and their HDI classifications:
1. Syrian Arab Republic
2. Libya
Its HDI classification (Low, Medium, High, Very High):
1. Syrian Arab Republic=Low HDI classification
2. Libya=High HDI classification
Q3
The major reason for lack of HDI calculation relating to the omitted countries stems from the
lack of reliable data associated with the three dimensions of HDI. For example, war torn
countries like Somalia do not allow for easy collection of data on education, health, and lifestyle.
In addition, some countries are too young to be included in the study because they only have
short-term data that is not applicable in HDI computation.
Q4.
“Very High” Human Development average HDI: 0.894
One country in this category is: Poland
“High” Human Development average HDI: 0.757
One country in this category is: Peru

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“Medium” Human Development average HDI: 0.645
One country in this category is: Philippines
“Low” Human Development average HDI: 0.504
One country in this category is: Papua New Guinea
Q5
(i)
“World” average HDI in 2017: 0.728
“World” average HDI in 1990: 0598
Average annual growth (change) between 1990 and 2017: 73%
(ii)
Regions with average HDI higher than the world average in 2017: East Asia and the Pacific,
Europe and Central Asia, and Latin America and the Caribbean.
Regions with average HDI lower than the world average in 2017: Arab States, South Asia, and
Sub-Saharan Africa
Region with the lowest average HDI in 2017: Sub-Saharan Africa
(iii)
“Least Developed Countries” average HDI in 2017: 0.524
“OECD” average HDI in 2017: 0.895

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II.2 Multidimensional Poverty Index
Q1
Headcount (%) population living
in multidimensional poverty
Population (%) living below
national income poverty line
Barbados 2.49% Not Given
Armenia 0.19% 29.40%
Kenya 38.87% 36.10%
Senegal 54.43% 46.70%
Q2
Education deprivation:
Contribution to overall
poverty (%)
Health deprivation:
Contribution to
overall poverty (%)
Income deprivation:
Contribution to overall
poverty (%)
Barbados 0.66% 96.05% 3.29%
Armenia 36.77% 33.11% 30.11%
Kenya 14.54% 25.08% 60.38%
Senegal 45.60% 21.42% 32.98%
Q3

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Income poverty and multidimensional poverty do not have a one-to-one relationship; meaning
that they are not perfect substitutes for each other neither do they employ the same metrics when
assessing poverty. Nevertheless, they are to a degree correlated; this implies that some level of
income poverty can be predicted by multidimensional poverty.
Q4
All ten countries: Niger, South Sudan, Somalia, Chad, Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Madagascar,
Mali, Central African Republic, and Mozambique
Region: Sub-Saharan Africa
II.3 Environmental Data in the HDI
Q1
Environmental data is normally collected overall a long period of time for the purposes of
comprehensiveness, accuracy, and reliability.
Q2
SDG stands for Sustainable Development Goal. Creating a link between environmental
indicators and a particular SDG allows us to monitor the progress of a particular nation in the
realization of the set UN Sustainable Development Goal.
Q3

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No, I think that fossil-fuel energy consumption and renewable energy consumption are better
environmental indicators compared to natural resource depletion. Moreover, due to the financial
impact and social hierarchy associated with natural resource depletion; I feel it should be
categorized as a socioeconomic indicator.
Q4
Livestock farming; this indicator relates to the release of the greenhouse gas methane by farm
animals especially cattle. The greatest challenge would be the determination of methane
production with regard to livestock farming habits across the world.
Urbanization: this indicator relates to establishment of factories and manufacturing plants that
are closely associated with pollution. The critical challenge would have to be the determination
of how much urbanization translates to pollution increment.
Q5
Greatest increase in Forest Area (%) from 1990-2015: Iceland
Greatest decrease in Forest Area (%) from 1990-2015: Togo
Q6
Highest per capita Carbon Dioxide Emissions (tonnes) in 2014: Qatar
Lowest per capita Carbon Dioxide Emissions (tonnes) in 2014: Burundi
Q7

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The Countries are: Saudi Arabia, Libya, Egypt, and Jordan
Region: Arab States
II.4 Data Visualizations
Q1
Yes, there is a strong positive correlation between the two variables. An increase in one variable
will cause an increment in the other variable. When the time series simulation is run from 1980
to 2014 the chart indicates that all five countries observed a positive increment in both HDI and
Education index within the stipulated duration.
Q2

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There is a moderately strong positive correlation between the two variables HDI and health
index. The simulation between 1980 and 2014 indicates that an increment has been observed for
both variables with some countries e.g. Kenya and Armenia recording periods of decrements.
Q3
There is a strong positive correlation between HDI and income index. The change in time (from
1980 to 2014) indicates a continuous positive increment in both variable for Canada, Senegal,
and Barbados. Kenya and Armenia had extended years of decrement especially in the 1990s with
regard to both variables.

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Q4
Countries: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Ethiopia, and Haiti
HDI vs Education
HDI vs Health