"Le document est un document de travail exceptionnel dans le cadre de l'enseignement universitaire. Il faut continuer d'y travailler et de préciser des contenus, mais il faut conserver l'essentiel."

• Respond to the comment | Back to the article

"The income of one person in any country of the world is not accurate because all the national treasures of countries are not well distributed between people. The chances for work are also not equivalent and do not depend on true scientific rules. So we need new methods to evaluate personal income and to evaluate the income of families because it will be the best indicator of lifestyle, of its progression and for prosperity."

• Respond to the comment | Back to the article

"I use the HDI all the time in my grassroots organizing and university teaching. Francisco Rodriguez's article is a valuable analysis. Thank you for posting it."

• Respond to the comment | Back to the article

"Es cierto, el IDH, involucra mucho más que nos imponen los grandes organismos. Invlocra, también el sentir de la gente. Hay cosas subjetivas que se tiende a pasar por alto , como la verdadera libertad de disentir del poder cuando este se muestra autoritario con un maquillaje de respetabilidad y democracia. Me gustaría compartir más con ustedes. Saludos desde Manta, Ecuador"

• Respond to the comment | Back to the article

"Do we find some kind of correlation of HDI with Disaster Response Capacity of a country in particular and overall Disaster Management in general?"

• Respond to the comment | Back to the article

"Human development is all about equal human rights. Once established you will not need to talk about human development any more, you will live it."

• Respond to the comment | Back to the article

"I'm glad to hear the HDR will continue to be published. It is an integral reference source for researchers, students and faculty across the academic spectrum. Not only is it important in comparing countries, if offers a long-term survey measurement for how countries are doing over time in terms of various development variables."

• Respond to the comment | Back to the article

"I agree the HDI in some form will contoinue to be very important. But where we need more work I think is improving data quality, always looking for more innovative ways to present and communicating what its key messages through stories that make the numbers come alive. There is also need for more work on understanding how the index can or indeed should influence policymaking at all levels."

• Respond to the comment | Back to the article

"HD talks of capability while HDI measures achievement. HD is defined in terms of individuals while HDI is computed at societal/community level. Yet it is good contribution. HD at 20!"

• Respond to the comment | Back to the article

"I think HD is useful in comparing countries, but it needs to be developed itself."

• Respond to the comment | Back to the article

"Vos commentaires sont bons, mais n'aident poit. Vous aurez contribué en participant éffectivement. Des petites organisations travaillent sur les terrains sans aucun fond. Nous n'avons d'assistance, on ne nous contacte pas alors mettez les pieds sur terre et travaillons ensemble. C'est ça le DH. Aidez-nous à aider les plus defavorables. Nous avons des projets qui dorment pour fautes de moyens, voici une occasion pour nous faire contruire des écoles, des dispensaires, et de la contre les maladies tropicales. Nous restons à votre disposition, contactez-nous. Nous travillons en Côte d'Ivoire à Vavoua zone de la malaria et des fièvres tropicales."

• Respond to the comment | Back to the article

"Li com bastante atenção e intersse o artigo. Do assunto em destaque, posso falar nos seguintes termos: um cidadão capaz de tomar decisões conscientes, precisa duma informação sem lacunas e directa; um debate global, pluralista e multidimensional, precisa ser arbitrado por uma entidade idónea e imparcial. É aí onde entra o PNUD, uma entidade com competencias já de longa data conhecidas. Quero com isso significar que, para que se estabeleçam os pressupostos supracitados, o IDH é um elementom de capital relevancia na vida das pessoas e nas suas acções, pois permitem um domínon panorámico e completo da situação de vida dos cidadãos globais. Assim, o IDH, um sistema universal e abrangente, permite-nos ter a noção sobre a nossa situação à par das ouytras sociedades."

• Respond to the comment | Back to the article

"Si se parte de una consideración global y sistémica del desarrollo, la educación se convierte en el eje vertebrador de cualquier política de desarrollo. Únicamente la educación puede entregar a cada ciudadano los elementos indispensables para comprender y actuar en la sociedad, para cambiar en la misma medida que lo hace el mundo, sin buscar una adaptación al presente sino una anticipación del porvenir. La educación debe preparar a las generaciones futuras para hacer frente a los problemas que plantean los progresos de la ciencia y la tecnología y para determinar qué aplicaciones serán beneficiosas y cuáles pueden ser nocivas. Asimismo, debe propiciar una «alfabetización científica» de toda la población, con el fin de formar ciudadanas y ciudadanos críticos y capaces de examinar la naturaleza de la ciencia y la tecnología como actividades humanas encaminadas al desarrollo individual y colectivo. En numerosos países la exclusión de una gran parte de la población viene propiciada por sus dificultades para acceder a los códigos de la modernidad, es decir, al conjunto de conocimientos y destrezas necesarios no sólo para su integración en la sociedad productiva, sino también para participar en la vida pública. Estos conocimientos y destrezas abarcan también el espíritu crítico, la capacidad para descifrar los mensajes de los medios de comunicación y para trabajar en equipo; para lograrlo, la educación debe transmitir esos códigos culturales básicos de la modernidad. Otro aspecto decisivo para contribuir al desarrollo humano es el logro por los sistemas educativos de actitudes favorables como la responsabilidad, la autoestima, el respeto hacia los demás, la curiosidad, la inclinación al trabajo en equipo y el liderazgo, actitudes decisivas para un cambio de mentalidad y para una inclinación favorable hacia el desarrollo. Atte., Ely - Editora y Profesora de Matemática - Física (Lima - Perú)"

• Respond to the comment | Back to the article

"The HDI's primary utility lies in its comparability. Admittedly, it does not and was never meant to be a fully comprehensive, umbrella-like index. It is unlikely that any index could come to grips with the vast array of issues and challenges faced by the world's nations. However, it does provide a useful tool when it comes to gauging progress toward predefined goals. For this reason, and its comparability, make refinements in the HDI but to eliminate it would be a mistake."

• Respond to the comment | Back to the article

"The fact that human development approach has brought to fore the need to focus on people's well-being and their capacity to enjoy a better living conditions clearly underscore its importance in comparing levels of development among various countries in the world. It also brings about the critical question of addressing issues of human development challenges such as poverty, inequality, diseases and illiteracy which create huge gaps between the rich income and low income countries of the world."

• Respond to the comment | Back to the article

"Very nice and thoughtful post, Francisco. I should add that many other indices have proliferated over the last 20 years partly due to the value of and popularity of HDI. Citing HDI numbers remains a useful, concise and quick way to summarize 'progress toward development' in academic papers."

• Respond to the comment | Back to the article

"The where's, what's and for how long's (which the HDI helps quantify), are essential components to anybody's initial attempts to understand the problems and success of nation states."

• Respond to the comment | Back to the article

"Dear Francisco, many thanks for your interesting article of which I really liked the tone (which I would define critically constructive!). I have one comment to add and if possible one question. In LDCs the HDI is actually almost the only comprehensive source of infos and is very often taken into consideration by researchers and practioners on the field for program design (or at least should be..). I would then be careful in saying that nowadays you don’t need an international organization to find your country’s life expectancy....:) This was the comment. Now the question. How do you consider the idea of developing a HSI (Human Security Index). I know it is a debase that is going on ever since but it would be interesting to know your opinion on that. Many thanks and looking forward for the release of the HDR 2010. Kind Regards, Ilaria"

• Respond to the comment | Back to the article

"Será interesante observar también el comportamiento del IDH de los grupos étnicos del país... en especial, institucionalmente esta información permitirá observar su comportamiento con tarahumaras, Tepehuanos, Odames y Guarojíos presentes en el Estado de Chihuahua, para de esa forma contar con información de coyontura que incida en el desarrollo adecuado de los programas sectoriales..... Un afectuoso saludo."

• Respond to the comment | Back to the article

"Je pense que sans doute il y a necessitée aujourdhui de plusieurs dimensions chacunea comparablea; pour tenir compte de la differente qualité de nouvelles informations - disponibilité d'eau potable, sur la santé, la qualité de l'information de la culture intellectuelle et la démocracie, et sur la guèrre, dans chaque pays, sur la corruption, e.g. Trasparency International.org et Antislavery International, Médecin sans frontières. Si l’IDH qui comprend plusieurs dimensions de développement, alors c'est mieux, plutôt qu'une mesure qui met l’accent sur une dimension seulement, comme le PIB. Mais c'est très important je croix que chaque table de statistique sois commentée pour comprendere la complexitée étudiée aussi par tout le monde."

• Respond to the comment | Back to the article

"Y es una gran verdad además que no siempre el desarrollo se lo consigue porque uno es más especializado con reconocimiento de diplomas, mestrías, y ese tipo de reconocimientos académicos, que están bien para los investigadores, pero ahora hay profesionales inclusive gente común y corriente que tiene una concepción integral del desarrollo, sólo a partir de su propia experiencia compartida con procesos similares y con conocimientos básicos de la realidad y de acuerdo a su área de preparación inclusive en lo legal, y en ese sentido, lo académico se queda muy atrás con relación a lo que aspiramos por igualdad entre los seres humanos, y ni se diga la armonía y el respeto a la naturaleza."

• Respond to the comment | Back to the article

"Veo fundamental la linea que ha bajado el Profesor Francisco Rodriguez,pero me pregunto como se articula su propuesta si no hay voluntad de gobierno genuina, si todo es paradojal y la ética en el diálogo no existe. De mi parte sigo trabajando por lograr ser escuchada sobre un programa que en su momento era prospectivo (1998), sobre capacitación a docentes en prevención de violencia, sistémico inclusivo de la familia. Vivo liquidando los bienes que me dejaron mis padres. Mientras contemplo con la impunidad que desde el poder siguen robando. No hay falta de compromiso departe de mucha gente por el contrario...lo que faltan son espacios éticos. He determinado constituirme en fundación para generar el propio, sabiendo que posiblemente esta no sea la mejor solución, solo una salida para poder dar. El panorama desde aquí es muy negro, solo me salva, tener un programa que en una mínima cuota aporte algo de lo que ya he podido ratificar cualitativamente será útil en aquella comuna que logre implementarlo. Educar no es negocio para quienes gobiernan. Y ya las generaciones a capacitar me refiero a docentes no reclaman algo serio, siguen anquilosados en el marco de estructuras, de principios del siglo pasado."

• Respond to the comment | Back to the article

"Estoy contento que el HDI seguirá publicándose. Es un referente para que las estudiantes de Comunicación para el Desarrollo ubiquen a nuestro país en el contexto global de hoy en día y para que reflexionen sobre los componentes del Desarrollo Humano que no implican solamente el desarrollo económico. Espero el HDI de este año que incluirá otros indicadores para la reflexión y el debate."

• Respond to the comment | Back to the article

"En adición a su valor a escala planetaria, el IDH calculado para espacios subnacionales, orienta la focalización de las inversiones para el desarrollo y de paso mide sus impactos y efectividad."

• Respond to the comment | Back to the article

"Sin lugar a dudas, este artículo pone en relevancia la urgente necesidad de debatir sobre la medición del bienestar social. A la fecha considero al IDH, como una herramienta poderosa, sobre todo, es creible y de amplia aceptación. Vaga una felicitación por el artículo."

• Respond to the comment | Back to the article

"Ce document est d'une importance capital. Malgré la présence des différents sources des données nous sommes et resterons fiers de voir continué cette pensée. Toute fois, on peut mettre ligne sur Facebook par exemple ou Hi5 des éléments pouvant incité les internautes à prendre à coeur les différents aspect de la cybercriminalité."

• Respond to the comment | Back to the article

"El incorporar mas dimensiones que permitan una valoraciónmas objetiva y real de la situacón de todos los paises del mundo, es un reto que debe tomar el IDH."

• Respond to the comment | Back to the article

"Vivir los indicadores de desarrollo humano con los que lo viven muestra una realidad mas critica de lo que estos dicen. Muchas comunidades ni siquieran son visitadas por los investigadores institucionales,lo hacen via virtual y en todo caso por muestreos obsoletos. Los invito a conocer mi departamento y se daran cuenta de una relidad al rojo vivo y sin intermediarios estadisticos."

• Respond to the comment | Back to the article

"The question is the HDR not the HDI! The HDI is a useful tool to stimulate debate and encourage critical thinking about "development performance". It has the advantage of being based on relatively robust and widely available data. So there should be no question of whether it should continue to be used - it is a public data series that could be calculated even if the HDR unit no longer does so. The fact that there is already a 20 year series simply adds to its value. A more substantive question is whether the HDR is a useful instrument or whether it is simply one more advocacy instrument which is squabbled over and captured by different persuasions and interests over time."

• Respond to the comment | Back to the article

"It's a need to find more reliable indicators in order to have a HDI more human... it has to evolve."

• Respond to the comment | Back to the article

"Es un documento muy util para estudiantes, profesores, gobierno, empresa privada, etc. Me agrada saber que se seguirán publicando."

• Respond to the comment | Back to the article

"I think that the idea of HDI is still precious and valuable. However, I have questioned how to use HDI - I do not beleive that "country ranking" is the best way to realize the original idea of HDI proposed by Dr. Sen. The way of use as "country ranking" is basically the same as the ways of use of GDP or any other single index. I think that we need to find a better way of using HDI for "absolute evaluation" aiming at realizing the well-balanced development in each country, rather than "relative evaluation (ranking)." I am seeking for this way as my research topic..."

• Respond to the comment | Back to the article

"HDI is very useful for countries like Myanmar where official data is unreliable. Economics professors always refer HDI in their lecture. However, there is a question on the credibility of the source of data being used for HDI. Still it is the best. Would it be great if HDR is launched earlier every year."

• Respond to the comment | Back to the article

"HDI has value as an advocacy tool. Within countries like India it is used for comparing the relative progress of the States."

• Respond to the comment | Back to the article

"Efectivamente, el IDH tal como se presenta en la actualidad, resulta ser un instrumento eficaz para analizar el proceso de DH en los diversos países. El artículo muestra una interesante, suscita y singular taxonomía de los elementos principales que lo integran, sin embargo, hoy ya se vene hablando del IDE, índice de densidad estatal, referido al nivel de expansión de los servicios, programas y proyectos sociales que permiten accesibilidad a la ciudadanía en general, será interesante su uso."

• Respond to the comment | Back to the article

"El presidente Perón decía en el año 1954 "...Nosotros, según nuestra teoría económica, medimos la actividad económica general o particular mediante el análisis periódico o permanente de los índices que reflejan el bienestar del pueblo. Nos interesa más la situación social, o sea el estado social del pueblo, que la situación económica del estado o la situación económica de las empresas individuales o privadas, sin que estas dejen de interesarnos como fuentes de bienestar social. Nosotros subordinamos el capital al bienestar social: tanto el capital individual cuanto el capital colectivo que posee el estado. La situación social es la situación del pueblo..." El HDI es el indicador de uso generalizado es desde mi punto de vista el que mejor se adapta a esas premisas."

• Respond to the comment | Back to the article

"HDI may not measure all the variables related to development of a nation and individuals but it gives a general view of how various nations and communities, that have subscribed to certain ideas of development, are doing interms of achieving the agreed development goals."

• Respond to the comment | Back to the article

"I believe that composite indicators have their role, and that HDI is a good example. But I also agree that a dashboard of other indicators can be useful. I hope that these will draw on the MDG indicator list, rather than be yet another listing. It would be useful if they could be posted on your site. Longer term, it may be worth thinking how to encourage coherence between the HDI and any agreed set of MDG-type objectives post-2015. And neither of these approaches should be at the expense of locally-led initiatives to use indicators to promote and monitor progress, of the kind well documented by the OECD 'Measuring the Progress of Societies' initiative."

• Respond to the comment | Back to the article

"For last two decades the HDI has become an important tool to measure the level of living of the people across the globe. Despite its certain limitations we can not think of what is proposed by you. The inclusion of inequalty dimensions in all indicators in today's HDI formulation would not only be helpful to understand the real picture, it would be certainly free from the problem of mean of means. Thanks."

• Respond to the comment | Back to the article

"Il faut aller plus loin que l'IDH en agrégeant des indicateurs supplémentaires. C'est ce que j'essaie de faire depuis près de 10 ans, avec l'indice du bonheur mondial, dans l'indifférence générale."

• Respond to the comment | Back to the article

"Considero capital la edición anual del HDI, no sólo como información validada por un organismo internacional de prestigio si no también por el carácter de denuncia y sensibilización que posee respecto a los derechos humanos en el planeta. Una muestra de ello es el excelente informe de 2009 sobre migraciones internacionales."

• Respond to the comment | Back to the article

"There is still a big difference between, for example, a fisherman living with his family on a relatively isolated beach in Brazil and a family living in a region where cold weather means heating ec. They may have very little actual money, no doctor close by, even no schools, but they may be much better off because they don't need many clothes as it is warm all year round and they have enough to eat because they have a small vegetable plot, some fruit trees, a few chickens and possibly some pigs or even a cow. There is also the advantage that there are no hurricanes or earthquakes to worry them. The best indices to compare different regions in Brazil are probably: "Do you have a refrigerator, and how old is it?" and then "How many TV sets?" People are often amazed by the amount of TV aerials seen in the poorer regions of the country."

• Respond to the comment | Back to the article

"Beyond the points mentioned as the reason to publish the HDI, I would like to add one important, very relevant reason. HDI is a document that has been produced by UN/UNDP which is the most appropriate organization to the world people. the UN system is working for all, according to its charter. It belongs to all without fevoring or disfevoring the one against the other. At this time of volatile world regionalism and globalization, the relevance of the UN is becoming crucial for no one is there to represent the people equally. HDI is an instrument that tells the story of the people to the people under different but relevant topics. Which else document that narrates our developmental status and needs, and challenges and possible solutions could tell with the most balanced manner? And who else could do this except the UN/UNDP? I think, the relevance of the HDI goes beyond its contents. But, I believe, it proves the relevance of the UN that humanities need to have it, such global organization for their safety, and human interaction. This is the viable path to maintain our world and sustain it to generations."

• Respond to the comment | Back to the article

"Felicidades por el artículo. El tono, el mensaje y el titulo son muy pertinentes. El lenguaje muy agradable."

• Respond to the comment | Back to the article

"El modelo capitalista debe cambiar su metodo voraz de obtener la máxima ganacia en detrimiento de la sociedades , Deberia contribuir desde el punto de vista economico a favorecer el desarrollo humano con sentido ecologico, sustentable para el disfrute de las nuevas generaciones. Para ello significa que el capitalista tiene que hacer un gran esfuerzo para cambiar el sentido de la explotación; de obtener ganacias no obscenas y distribuirlo en bienes y servicios a la sociedad logrando mejorar el nivel de vida de las poblaciones y sobre todo donde halla mayores problemas como el hambre, la pobreza, el analfabetismo entre otros. Es posible un mundo mejor y en paz. Utopia posible."

• Respond to the comment | Back to the article

"I wonder whether the "dashboard" refered in the statement "However, it will now be presented side by side with a new dashboard of human development indicators which can help us make more informed judgements about what happens in different societies.", looks similar to the one known as the MDG dashboard at http://esl.jrc.it/dc/. We must keep in mind the need to make more efforts in communicating the right message to the public so that policy making can be influenced; therefore, we need very simple and straight forward tools to convey this task, such as MDG dashboard."

• Respond to the comment | Back to the article

"Creo que hasta el titulo del articulo esta demás ante algo tan obvio, ya que el HDI a mi modo de ver es uno de los aportes mas importantes (si no el mas importante) que hace las naciones unidas para aumentar el bienestar de la humanidad, es un estimulo y una herramienta invalorable tanto para los gobiernos como para los pueblos para detectar sus falla, compararlas con otros países y corregirlas según las necesidades, es muy útil también para que en base a las políticas aplicadas por los diferentes países y sus resultados compartir las experiencias para mejorar los estados de bienestar de cada nación. Siempre tratando de corregirlo en sus fallas, incorporando según las experiencias nuevos índices y eso si debería publicarse algo mas temprano para poder aplicar cada país los correctivos oportuno. Una pequeña critica: a veces tienden a occidentalizarse los criterios de bienestar."

• Respond to the comment | Back to the article

"It is true that the HDI is not a complete index but it helps us to find better indices in many areas, such as the legatium prosperity index. However none of these indices are complete and this is a motivation for us to find better ones. good luck"

• Respond to the comment | Back to the article

"Human development itself is a gamut of issues that address the quality of lives people are able to lead or rather have the right to live. Spectrum of indicators have surfaced over time to capture these dynamics of quality living across countries all over the world but how best they are able to highlight social realities is a question."

• Respond to the comment | Back to the article

"HDI itself is a narrow index incorporating certain achievements of a society. It has to be refined to include individual traits of well being so that a holistic perspective on development may be evolved. Contributions from all sorts of people are needed to put forth a new concept of human well being."

• Respond to the comment | Back to the article

"The HDI is a good development, but I fear that it does not take cognizance of the role of cultures and supreme belief systems in the develoopment of peoples and nations like the Asian Tigers have demonstrated."

• Respond to the comment | Back to the article

"HDI still needed in some countries especially in the lesser-developed countries than in the industrialized country, to support their broader development hence as generator in Human Resources towards Human Development well-being. The emphasis is dependant on the environmental resources and constrains of those countries ."

• Respond to the comment | Back to the article

"Creo que todo lo que ayude a estimar las condiciones de vida de las poblaciones ayuda como diagnóstico para poder hacer políticas públicas que permitan mejorarlas. Sin embargo, creo más en poder contar con cada uno de los elementos medibles que tratar de hacer agregados, porque se miden aspectos cuantificables como el PBI con la libertad, la madurez democrática, la salud y la educación. Es imposible cuantificar la felicidad, cuánto vale un PBI alto en un país sin distribución del ingreso? Cuánto desacredita la falta de libertades? Es muy importante contar con los datos, pero además de precisos, deben ser comparables. Tener un país rico con gente esclavizada vale cero. La grandeza de la Patria y la felicidad del pueblo deben ir juntos."

• Respond to the comment | Back to the article

"Siempre es bueno poder contar con herramientas que permitan conocer la situación de los países y de la gente que los habita. Todos y cada uno de los elementos del HDI son excelentyes para hacer un diagnóstico que permita luego hacer cambios en las politicas publicas para mejorar las condiciones de vida de los pueblos. Creo sin embargo que no se pueden combinar elementos heterogeneos. Un alto PBI sin distribución del ingreso vale cero, y dentro de una tiranía es peor, es directamente negativo. Hay valores no cuantificables. La mejor combinación sería la grandeza de la Patria y la felicidad del pueblo, pero eso se siente y se sabe en los hechos, difícilmente en un índice global."

• Respond to the comment | Back to the article

"Dear Dr. Yonehara, I am in agreement about the lack of utility in ranking one nation against another. I believe the score is of use, but there should be a "gold standard" - a standard by which all nations can aspire to with respect to the HDI or any indicator in a global data set. A nation can then discuss its progress toward a goal and identify specific barriers (whether domestic or international) which stand in the way of it reaching the goal. Regards, Ted Chelmow"

• Respond to the comment | Back to the article

"Si bien soy integrante de las organizaciones de mujeres que nombrè, esta opiniòn no las compromete. Es de mi autoria. Considero que es muy importante seguir contando con el IDH, porque nos ubica en una realidad que si bien existe es desconocida. Es un idicador como lo expresa su nombre que es necesario seguirlo construyendo, para que cada vez sea màs preciso y contemple la dimensiòn de los derechos humanos."

• Respond to the comment | Back to the article

"It seems that the HDI should include other dimensions of human life such as spiritual or social dimensions. In real life, blessed and happiness -as goals of human development- are dependant to such non-individual and mental aspects of peoples' lives."

• Respond to the comment | Back to the article

"The Human Development Index is the summary picture of development at individuals level, since it is carried out with health (living longer healthy with adequate nutrition), education (adult literacy plus school enrolment ratio) and economic ability. Policy makers should put these indicators as the number one item in their agenda of development. We know it is not an easy task to accomplished but more efforts have to be put in place to ensure good results. We are saying a very big thank you to most especially those who engaged themselves to sponsor HDI."

• Respond to the comment | Back to the article

"Anything which can help take the focus off GDP as the sole measure of development is useful, and the HDI has played an important role in the fight. But of course the battle continues. A composite indicator is a powerful way to tell a story. It might not be a useful tool for detailed policy analysis, but as a way to provoke debate and as a window into the underlying data it is important. However, the HDI says nothing about sustainability, nothing (directly at least) about governance, and nothing (again directly) about subjective components of wellbeing. These are three key areas of societal concern and I hope that they will be reflected in some way in the new report."

• Respond to the comment | Back to the article

"The HDI continues to be useful in comparing development across countries and even in motivating countries in investing more in areas captured in the measurement - education and health. For the latter reason, it is important the indices captures those variables in greater deepth by capturing level of attainment in tertiary education and vocational training at different levels of government; not only averages or at central level of Government and to include a variable to capture infrastructural development as a stimulant for growth and human development. Also looking at the indices it would be very difficult to see a big movement or improvement in the indices from one category of country to another. Developed countries are often found in developing countries because they want to participate in the development of those countries. It would be great to capture that level of commitment and accountability. I am not referring to granting aid and loans but the level of commitment , contribution to and implementation of international conventions and protocals - Kyoto agreement, the Doha rounds especially on trade and immigration and so on. Essentially it is useful that the HDI is being used for comparaison and it would be great to also a accountability."

• Respond to the comment | Back to the article

"I just want to add few points on the issue "do we still need HDI as a measure of Human development." Despite its complexity HDI (compared with GDP), I believe it is still relatively better and acceptable parameter to measure of Human Development. Why relative? Because the wider issue of human development, it is not to be measured only by the observed changes in achievements in the health and education status of an individual or a nation's investment in these sectors alone. There is a need to invest more in good governance, public works, securing basic needs such as food, jobs, etc to citizens. This makes the HDI a composite parameter. There is no question about the fact that HDI is better than GDP in measuring human development as the later only considers growth in financial/economic terms without regard to the distribution aspect of the achieved growth. We may still use GDP in the absence of other parameters or lack of date to calculate HDI or other poverty indices. What we need to think and do in the future is, to expand the contents of the HDI to include as many factors as possible so that it will be the best and inclusive parameter. Some of the factors that might complicate are - if we make the HDI more complex to capture many factors. Where do these factors end? How many and which factors are the most common cutting across all countries of the world? As development varies from one country to another the factors that need to be in the equation will also vary, hence we might lose the common denominators for comparison the nations of the world. If we try to use the global classification of less developed, developing and developed nations we still need common denominator even to use this classification hence become more complex and not easy. We need to continue researching as human development is a continuous process."

• Respond to the comment | Back to the article

"HDI is the one of the best parameter to know ourselves where we are and also helps that to understand development is not only based on the economic growth but is also in health & education of the people."

• Respond to the comment | Back to the article

"The HDI is an indicator that help us in finding out where are we NOW. It is a reference to us that can help us in setting our goals and our strategy."

• Respond to the comment | Back to the article

"O IDH tem uma importância cada vez maior para a elaboração e análise da eficiência de políticas governamentais. A combinação ponderada de seus subíndices refletem quais as áreas em que as cidades, as regiôes dentro de um mesmo país (no caso do IDH-M) e os países precisam avançar mais. Penso que seria bem eficaz se o IDH incluísse também, em seu subíndice de renda, um parâmetro de comparação do poder aquisitivo médio da população, o que poderia ser feito analisando-se a média de rendimentos familiares nos países e criando-se uma unidade de conversão entre as diferentes moedas nacionais, visto que um país pode ter um PIB per capita ajustado ao poder de compra da moeda alto, com a maior parte da população tendo rendimentos baixos. Cite-se como exemplo o caso da Guiné Equatorial."

• Respond to the comment | Back to the article

"We still need HDI but its base should be enhanced. It should not remain only an index of three variables. I can't understand how it describes the concept of widening choices? What about the income variable, is it describing the concept of HDR."

• Respond to the comment | Back to the article

"Human Development index, is an accessible data through which we, the students of International Relations and Political economy can be able to know much on fact and figure of economy and well being of humanity in a country basis."

• Respond to the comment | Back to the article

"I would like to thank all those who are sincerely working on such a great topic, Human Development, broadening the minds of scholars, researchers and policy makers to realise that concentration on mere GDP to evaluate development and on the basis of it to allocate resources is misleading. I think the HDI helps research scholars and even young students to evaluate government policies and criticize politicians and compel them to consider human development in their programmes and avoid using such yardsticks as GDP to justify their misallocation of resources, particularly in oil producing countries. However, I would like to suggest that we can imptove the index by including in it "human rights and/or property rights" to better indicate development and reduce the weight of GDP in it. The data for human rights are available similarly the data for property rights (substitutes for human rights are also available). I think that would lead to important changes and upgrade the HDI."

• Respond to the comment | Back to the article