Development

Why Does Development Vary among Countries? United Nations (UN) developed a metric to measure the level of development of every country called the Human Development Index (HDI) - A measure of development that includes measures of income, education, and health (life expectancy). It is based on three factors: 1. Decent standard of living 2. Long and healthy life 3. Access to knowledge Countries group into 4 classes Level of development ranging from developed (Very High) to developing (Low).

Subjective Well-Being

Regions and other areas are shown in order of level of development. Developed regions are in red, and developing regions in green.

Why Does Development Vary among Countries? A Decent Standard of Living UN measures standard of living based on two functions: 1. Gross national income (GNI) Value of the output of goods and services produced in a country annually, including money that leaves and enters the country. Gross domestic product (GDP) is similar except it doesn’t account for money entering and leaving the country. Per capita GNI measures average (mean) wealth, not its distribution among citizens. 2. Purchasing power parity (PPP) Cost of living adjustment made to the GNI.

GNI per capita PPP is highest in developed countries. The lowest figures are in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia.

Figure 18B.3 GDP per Capita over Time

Why Does Development Vary among Countries? A Long and Healthy Life UN considers good health to be an important measure of development: Main health indicator contribution to the HDI is life expectancy at birth. Average life expectancies of a baby Global average: 70 years Developed country: 80 years Developing country: 68 years Better health and welfare in developed countries permit people to live longer.

The highest life expectancy is in Europe, and the lowest is in sub- Saharan Africa.

Why Does Development Vary among Countries? Access to Knowledge UN considers years of schooling to be the most critical measure of the ability of an individual to gain access to knowledge needed for development. Quantity of Schooling Average Years of schooling Global: 7 years Developing: 6 years Developed: 11 years Expected years of schooling Developed: 16 years Developing: 11 years Children in developed countries are expected to attend college, but they aren’t expected to attend college in developing countries.

The highest number of years of schooling is in North America, and the lowest numbers are in South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa.

Primary School Completion Rate,

The highest numbers of expected years of schooling are in North America and Europe, and the lowest numbers are in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia.

Why Does Development Vary among Countries? Access to Knowledge cont’d: Quality of Schooling Pupil/teacher ratio Global: 24 (primary school) Developing: 26 (primary school) Developed: 14 (primary school) Literacy rate Percentage of a country’s people who can read and write. Developed: >99% Developing: 70-90%

The lowest pupil/teacher ratio is in North America, and the highest is in sub-Saharan Africa.

Literacy is nearly 100 percent in developed countries. The lowest rates are in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia.