ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL

INDICATORS OF DEVELOPMENT

YASHASVIKA YADAV
 GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT

Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is the total monetary

or market value of all the finished goods and services
produced within a country's borders in a specific time
period. As a broad measure of overall domestic
production, it functions as a comprehensive scorecard
of the country’s economic health.
Though GDP is usually calculated on an annual basis,
it can be calculated on a quarterly basis as well. In the
United States, for example, the government releases
an annualized GDP estimate for each quarter and also
for an entire year.
 Gross National Product (GNP)

Gross national product (GNP) is an estimate of total

value of all the final products and services turned out
in a given period by the means of production owned by
a country's residents. GNP is commonly calculated by
taking the sum of personal consumption expenditures,
private domestic investment, government expenditure,
net exports and any income earned by residents from
overseas investments, minus income earned within the
domestic economy by foreign residents. Net exports
represent the difference between what a country
exports minus any imports of goods and services.
 ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL INDICATORS OF DEVELOPMENT:
HAPPINESS

There is no formal definition of happiness; we know it when we

feel it, and we often use the term to describe a range of positive
emotions, including joy, pride, contentment, and gratitude.
Many of them use the term interchangeably with “subjective
well-being,” which they measure by simply asking people to
report how satisfied they feel with their own lives and how
much positive and negative emotion they’re experiencing.
Attaining happiness is a global pursuit. Researchers find that
people from every corner of the world rate happiness more
important than other desirable personal outcomes, such as
having a meaningful life, becoming rich, and getting into
heaven
 ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL INDICATORS OF DEVELOPMENT

The United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions

Network has released the World Happiness Report 2019.
The report ranks countries on six key variable that support
well-being: income, freedom, trust, healthy life expectancy,
social support and generosity. The United Nations
Sustainable Development Solutions Network ranks the
world’s 156 countries on “how happy their citizens perceive
them to be”
Finland topped the index of for the second year in a row
and the report notes that Finland has succeeded in
generating recipe that’s not dependent on economic wealth
 ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL INDICATORS OF DEVELOPMENT

The report there has been an increase of negative emotions such as

worry, sadness and anger across the world and the overall world
happiness has fallen over the past few years
None of the world’s economic power made it in the top ten. Japan and
the concept of Karoshi
The World Happiness Report offers the world’s governments and
individuals the opportunity to rethink public policies and individual
life choices, to raise happiness and well being
Gross National Happiness (GNH) is a philosophy that guides the
government of Bhutan. It includes an index which is used to measure
the collective happiness and well-being of a population. Gross
National Happiness is instituted as the goal of the government of
Bhutan in the Constitution of Bhutan, enacted on 18 July 2008
 ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL INDICATORS OF
DEVELOPMENT
The World Happiness Report is a landmark survey of
the state of global happiness that ranks 156 countries
by how happy their citizens perceive themselves to
be.
 World Happiness Report focuses on happiness and
the community: how happiness has evolved over the
past dozen years, with a focus on the technologies,
social norms, conflicts and government policies that
have driven those changes.
 ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL INDICATORS OF
DEVELOPMENT

The first was released in April 2012 in support of a UN

High level meeting on “Wellbeing and Happiness:
Defining a New Economic Paradigm”
The world happiness report for 2019 has put Finland
on the top spot on the most happiest country for the
second consecutive year.
According to reports, Finland is the happiest country
amongst 156 nations surveyed by the UN Sustainable
Development Solutions Network. India has dropped
down seven spots in the happiness rankings as
compared to its 2018 ranking
 ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL INDICATORS OF
DEVELOPMENT

Various factors that determine the happiness levels

of a country include life expectancy, social support,
income, freedom, trust, health and generosity,
amongst others
The immediate neighbours of India including
Pakistan, Bhutan, Nepal, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka
are way ahead in the happiness rankings. In this
report, Pakistan stands at 67th rank, China at 93,
Bhutan at 95, Nepal at 100, Bangladesh at 125 and
Sri Lanka at 130, leaving India way behind.
 HUMAN DEVELOPMENT INDEX

The Human Development Index (HDI) is a tool

developed by the United Nations to measure and
rank countries' levels of social and economic
development. Four principal areas of examination
are used to rank countries: mean years of schooling,
expected years of schooling, life expectancy at birth
and gross national income per capita. This index
makes it possible to follow changes in development
levels over time and to compare the development
levels of different countries.
 HUMAN DEVELOPMENT INDEX
The Human Development Index (HDI) was established to
place emphasis on individuals more precisely on their
opportunities to realize satisfying work and lives. Evaluating
a country's potential for individual human development
provides a supplementary metric for evaluating a country's
level of development besides considering standard economic
growth statistics, such as gross domestic product (GDP).
This index can also be used to examine the various policy
choices of nations; if, for example, two countries have
approximately the same gross national income (GNI) per
capita, then it can help to evaluate why they produce widely
disparate human development outcomes.
 HUMAN DEVELOPMENT INDEX

The HDI is essentially a summary measurement of basic

achievement levels in fundamental dimensions of human
development. The computed HDI of a country is a geometric mean
of normalized indexes of each of the life aspects that are examined
– knowledge and understanding, a long and healthy life, and an
acceptable standard of living.
The health aspect of the HDI is measured by the life expectancy, as
calculated at the time of birth, in each country. Education is
measured on two levels: the mean years of schooling for residents
of a country and the expected years of schooling that a child has at
the average age for starting school. The metric chosen to represent
standard of living is GNI per capita based on purchasing power
parity (PPP), a common metric used to reflect average income.
 HUMAN DEVELOPMENT INDEX

The HDI was developed by Pakistani Economist

Mahbub ul Haq in 1990 which was further used to
measure a country’s development by United Nations
Development Program
HDI is one of the best tools to keep track of the level
of development of a country, as it combines all major
social and economic indicators that are responsible
for economic development.
India ranks 130 among 189 countries, Bangladesh
and Pakistan are ranked 136 and 150 respectively
 HUMAN DEVELOPMENT INDEX

Between 1990 and 2017, India’s HDI value increased

from 0.427 to 0.640, an increase of nearly 50 precent
and an indicator of the country’s remarkable
achievement in lifting millions of people out of
poverty
Norway, Australia, Switzerland, Ireland and
Germany led the ranking while Niger, the Central
African Republic, South Sudan, Chad and Burundi
have lowest score in HDI’s measurement of national
achievements in health, education and income
HUMAN DEVELOPMENT INDEX
 Human Rights as an indicator

Human rights are based on dignity, equality and mutual respect –

regardless of your nationality, your religion or your beliefs.
Your rights are about being treated fairly and treating others fairly, having
the ability to make choices about your own life. These basic human rights
are:
Universal They belong to all of us – everybody in the world
Inalienable They cannot be taken away from us
Indivisible and interdependent Governments should not be able to
pick and choose which are respected
Human Rights can be violated Although they are inalienable, they are
not invulnerable. Violations can stop people from enjoying their rights,
but they do not stop the rights from existing.
Human Rights are essential They are essential for freedom, justice,
and peace.
 Human Rights as an indicator

In 1948, following the traumatic events of World War II,

representatives from the 50 member states of the United Nations
banded together to create a list of the rights everyone around the world
should enjoy.
Under the guidance of Eleanor Roosevelt, then-first lady of the United
States and a politician, diplomat and activist in her own right, the
Universal Declaration of Human Rights was born.
Article 1 states: “All human beings are born free and equal in dignity
and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should
act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.”
There are 30 actions in the Declaration of Human Rights – 30 rights of
everyone on this planet. The remaining articles include the right to
asylum, the right to freedom from torture, the right to free speech and
the right to education.
 Human Rights as an indicator

Human rights are rights inherent to all human beings,

regardless of race, sex, nationality, ethnicity, language,
religion, or any other status. Human rights include the
right to life and liberty, freedom from slavery and torture,
freedom of opinion and expression, the right to work and
education, and many more.  Everyone is entitled to these
rights, without discrimination.
International human rights law lays down the obligations
of Governments to act in certain ways or to refrain from
certain acts, in order to promote and protect human rights
and fundamental freedoms of individuals or groups.
 Human Rights as an indicator

One of the great achievements of the United Nations is the creation of a

comprehensive body of human rights law—a universal and internationally
protected code to which all nations can subscribe and all people aspire.
The United Nations has defined a broad range of internationally accepted
rights, including civil, cultural, economic, political and social rights. It has
also established mechanisms to promote and protect these rights and to
assist states in carrying out their responsibilities.
The foundations of this body of law are the Charter of the
United Nations and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, adopted
by the General Assembly in 1945 and 1948, respectively.  Since then, the
United Nations has gradually expanded human rights law to encompass
specific standards for women, children, persons with disabilities,
minorities and other vulnerable groups, who now possess rights that
protect them from discrimination that had long been common in many
societies.
 Human Rights as an indicator

Universal Declaration of Human Rights

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) is a milestone
document in the history of human rights. Drafted by representatives
with different legal and cultural backgrounds from all regions of the
world, the Declaration was proclaimed by the United Nations General
Assembly in Paris on 10 December 1948 by General Assembly
resolution 217 A (III) as a common standard of achievements for all
peoples and all nations.
 It sets out, for the first time, fundamental human rights to be
universally protected. Since its adoption in 1948, the UDHR has been
translated into more than 500 languages – the most translated
document in the world - and has inspired the constitutions of many
newly independent States and many new democracies.
 Human Rights as an indicator

The International Covenant on Economic, Social and

Cultural Rights
entered into force in 1976. The human rights that
the Covenant seeks to promote and protect include:
the right to work in just and favorable conditions;
the right to social protection, to an adequate
standard of living and to the highest attainable
standards of physical and mental well-being;
the right to education and the enjoyment of benefits
of cultural freedom and scientific progress
 Human Rights as an indicator

The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and its

First Optional Protocol entered into force in 1976. The
Second Optional Protocol was adopted in 1989.
The Covenant deals with such rights as freedom of movement;
equality before the law; the right to a fair trial and presumption of
innocence; freedom of thought, conscience and religion; freedom
of opinion and expression; peaceful assembly; freedom of
association; participation in public affairs and elections; and
protection of minority rights. It prohibits arbitrary deprivation of
life; torture, cruel or degrading treatment or punishment; slavery
and forced labour; arbitrary arrest or detention; arbitrary
interference with privacy; war propaganda; discrimination; and
advocacy of racial or religious hatred.
 Human Rights as an indicator

Human rights in India is an issue complicated by the

country's large size and population, widespread poverty,
lack of proper education.
The Constitution of India provides for Fundamental rights,
which include freedom of religion. Clauses also provide for
freedom of speech, as well as separation of executive and
judiciary and freedom of movement within the country and
abroad. The country also has an independent judiciary and
well as bodies to look into issues of human rights
Religious Violence – Anti Sikh Riots, 2002 Gujarat Riots
Caste related Violence- Atrocities against Dalits
 Human Rights as an indicator

According to the estimates of Reporters Without

Borders, India ranks 122nd worldwide in 2010 on
the press freedom index (down from 105th in 2009).
The press freedom index for India is 38.75 in 2010
(29.33 for 2009) on a scale that runs from 0 (most
free) to 105 (least free). In 2014 India was down
ranked to 140th worldwide (score of 40.34 out of
105) but despite this remains one of the best scores
in the region.
 Human Rights as an indicator

Until the Delhi High Court decriminalized consensual

private sexual acts between consenting adults on 2 July
2009, homosexuality was considered criminal as per
interpretations of the ambiguous Section 377 of the
150-year-old Indian Penal Code (IPC), a law passed by
the colonial British authorities. However, this law was
very rarely enforced.
On 6 September 2018, a five judge constitutional bench
of the Supreme Court of India, in a landmark
judgement, decriminalized homosexuality and banned
discrimination based on sexual orientation.
COMMUNICATION AS AN INDICATOR: ROLE OF ICT

New media technologies promise profound changes in how global

citizens obtain news and feature programming as well as how we
communicate among ourselves and contribute to the emerging
de-centralized, many-to-many media system. By becoming aware
of how mass media is controlled and biased by a few corporations,
by choosing alternative media sources and by taking action to
publish news and original content with digital production tools,
the internet and independent media-vehicles – the public can
create a true revolution in the control and presentation of media.
 Information and communications technology (ICT) is an
extensional term for information technology (IT) that stresses the
role of unified communications and the integration of
telecommunications (telephone lines and wireless signals)
COMMUNICATION AS AN INDICATOR: ROLE OF
ICT
ICT refers to technologies that provide access to information
through telecommunications. It is similar to Information
Technology (IT), but focuses primarily on communication
technologies. This includes the Internet, wireless networks, cell
phones, and other communication mediums.
In the past few decades, information and communication
technologies have provided society with a vast array of new
communication capabilities. For example, people can
communicate in real-time with others in different countries
using technologies such as instant messaging, voice over IP
(VoIP), and video-conferencing. Social networking websites like
Facebook allow users from all over the world to remain in contact
and communicate on a regular basis.
COMMUNICATION AS AN INDICATOR: ROLE OF
ICT

Modern information and communication technologies have

created a "global village," in which people can communicate
with others across the world as if they were living next door.
For this reason, ICT is often studied in the context of how
modern communication technologies affect society.
Information and communication technologies for
development (ICT4D) refers to the application of
information and communication technologies (ICT) toward
social, economic, and political development, with a
particular emphasis on helping poor and marginalized
people and communities
 COMMUNICATION AS AN INDICATOR: ROLE OF
ICT

It aims to help in international development by bridging the digital

divide and providing equitable access to technologies. ICT4D is
grounded in the notions of "development", "growth", "progress" and
"globalization" and is often interpreted as the use of technology to
deliver a greater good
The sharing of knowledge and information, particularly through
Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) has the power
to transform economies and societies. UNESCO works to create
inclusive knowledge societies and empower local communities by
increasing access to and preservation and sharing of information and
knowledge. UNESCO strives for knowledge societies built on four
pillars: freedom of expression; universal access to information and
knowledge; respect for cultural and linguistic diversity; and quality
education for all.
 ICT IN VILLAGES
ADVANTAGES
ICT and Social
Development:Education can
have a major role in social
development. There is a clear
interaction between ICT and
education. Perhaps the most
tangible benefits of ICT for
developing countries, is having
access to great resources for
higher education with a
minimum or no costs at all
DISADVANTAGES
ICT and the Increase of
Poverty: Some researchers
believe that the spread of
ICT increases poverty due
to the unequal distribution
of facilities and increasing
the centralization in urban
areas.
 ICT IN VILLAGES
ADVATNAGES
Develop and Promote ICT in Rural
Areas: Communication technologies
have created opportunities to
promote effective and timely
response for the users. In fact,
internet communication services are
some tools for the personnel to
promote dissemination the new
technologies. Using internet can also
shortens the distance between
researchers and the villagers and
creates such a mechanism which
makes bottom-up dialogue possible
and broadcast local knowledge.
DISADVANTAGES
ICT and Creating New Job
Opportunities for People with
High Skills: the employment
generated by ICT are
available for those young
people with higher level of
education and skills, while
the most active rural young
people have lower levels of
education and knowledge.

 ICT IN VILLAGES
ADVANTAGES
ICT and Expansion of Rural
Markets: Electronic commerce is
one of the advantages of IC
formation .Electronic commerce
means a wide use of information
technology in commercial processes
using electronic tools to achieve
business objectives. Electronic
commerce helps producers to follow
the price and demands for their
products and find the best market.
Governments can also distribute the
products in the best way possible.
DISADVANTAGES
ICT and the Increase of
Unemployment: Some of these
studies indicate that the spread of
information technology and
automation, which have provided
long-distance on line jobs,
eliminated many simple jobs. Based
on the studies, more improvements
and spread of ICT and
mechanization will increase the rate
of unemployment among both
unprofessional and professional
workers. For example: typrwriters