AGENDA What is human development? What are the possible benefits of a new approach? What are our findings? What will it take to boost HD scores?

About the Project A nonpartisan, non-profit initiative established to introduce to the United States a well-honed international approach and tool for measuring human well-being: the human development approach and the human development index. Mission: to stimulate fact-based public debate about and political attention to human development issues in the United States and to empower people with an instrument to hold elected officials accountable for improving Americans’ human development. Funders: the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation, Oxfam America, The Rockefeller Foundation, the Social Science Research Council, and the Annenberg Foundation. Publisher: Columbia University Press 3 THE MEASURE OF AMERICA | AMERICAN HUMAN DEVELOPMENT REPORT 2008–2009

What is Human Development?

The human development approach was developed at the United Nations in the late 1980’s, based in part on the work of Harvard economist and Nobel Laureate Amartya Sen. Human development is defined as a process of enlarging people’s freedoms and opportunities and improving their well-being. This approach is a response to the failure of purely economic metrics to capture how people are faring. THE MEASURE OF AMERICA | AMERICAN HUMAN DEVELOPMENT REPORT 2008–2009

Human Development Concept 6 THE MEASURE OF AMERICA | AMERICAN HUMAN DEVELOPMENT REPORT 2008–2009

Measuring Human Development 7 THE MEASURE OF AMERICA | AMERICAN HUMAN DEVELOPMENT REPORT 2008–2009

Top-Ranked Countries in Human Development 1980–2005 THE MEASURE OF AMERICA | AMERICAN HUMAN DEVELOPMENT REPORT 2008–2009

Possible Benefits of a New Approach

Benefits of a New Approach This well-honed international tool reveals new insights when applied to the United States. Many are alienated by today’s bitterly polarized debates. This approach could promote a more informed, reasoned debate using objective facts and comparisons. Economic indicators only tell part of the story. Empowers people with an instrument to hold elected officials accountable. Connects research to action on well-being. 10 THE MEASURE OF AMERICA | AMERICAN HUMAN DEVELOPMENT REPORT 2008–2009

What the HD Index Reveals

Historical Trends in Human Development Steady progress Lifespan increased by eight years Rate doubles Progress stalled YEAR AMERICAN HD INDEX LIFE EXPECTANCY AT BIRTH (YEARS) AT LEAST HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA (%) AT LEAST BACHELOR’S DEGREE (%) GRADUATE OR PROFESSIONAL DEGREE (%) SCHOOL ENROLLMENT (%) MEDIAN EARNINGS (2005 DOLLARS) 2005 5.05 77.9 84.2 27.2 10.0 86.8 27,299 2000 4.67 77.0 80.4 24.4 8.9 82.8 27,382 1990 3.82 75.4 75.2 20.3 7.2 80.8 23,164 1980 2.86 73.7 66.5 16.2 5.6 71.9 21,432 1970 2.10 70.8 52.3 10.7 3.6 73.3 20,613 1960 1.23 69.7 41.1 7.7 2.5 76.9 15,732 12 THE MEASURE OF AMERICA | AMERICAN HUMAN DEVELOPMENT REPORT 2008–2009

American Human Development Index STATE MAP American Human Development Index The U.S. Human Development Index is 5.06 TOP: CT BOTTOM: MS 13 THE MEASURE OF AMERICA | AMERICAN HUMAN DEVELOPMENT REPORT 2008–2009

American Human Development Index CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT MAP American Human Development Index The U.S. Human Development Index is 5.06 TOP: CD 14 NY BOTTOM: CD 20 CA 14 THE MEASURE OF AMERICA | AMERICAN HUMAN DEVELOPMENT REPORT 2008–2009

HD Index 15

Health Index Life Expectancy at Birth STATE MAP Health Index Life Expectancy at Birth The U.S. Life Expectancy is 78 BOTTOM: DC 73.8 TOP: HI 81.7 16 THE MEASURE OF AMERICA | AMERICAN HUMAN DEVELOPMENT REPORT 2008–2009

Health Index Life Expectancy at Birth CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT MAP Health Index Life Expectancy at Birth The U.S. Life Expectancy is 78 TOP: CD 8, VA 82.9 BOTTOM: CD 5, KY 72.6 17 THE MEASURE OF AMERICA | AMERICAN HUMAN DEVELOPMENT REPORT 2008–2009

Life Expectancy by Race/Ethnicity THE MEASURE OF AMERICA | AMERICAN HUMAN DEVELOPMENT REPORT 2008–2009

Global Health Comparisons, Healthcare Spending THE MEASURE OF AMERICA | AMERICAN HUMAN DEVELOPMENT REPORT 2008–2009

Global Health Comparisons: Life Expectancy THE MEASURE OF AMERICA | AMERICAN HUMAN DEVELOPMENT REPORT 2008–2009

Infant Mortality: If the U. S Infant Mortality: If the U.S. had the rate of the top-ranked country (Sweden), over 21,000 American babies would have lived to celebrate their first birthday.

Health We have the medical knowledge to transform asthma from a fatal disease to a manageable chronic illness. But compounded layers of advantage/disadvantage result in very different life chances:

Education Index Educational Attainment and School Enrollment STATE MAP Education Index Educational Attainment and School Enrollment The U.S. Education Index is 5.04 TOP: DC BOTTOM: MS 23 THE MEASURE OF AMERICA | AMERICAN HUMAN DEVELOPMENT REPORT 2008–2009

Education Index Educational Attainment and School Enrollment CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT MAP Education Index Educational Attainment and School Enrollment The U.S. Education Index is 5.04 TOP: CD 30, CA BOTTOM: CD 29, TX 24 THE MEASURE OF AMERICA | AMERICAN HUMAN DEVELOPMENT REPORT 2008–2009

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Upper Secondary Graduation Rate, 2004 GLOBAL COMPARISON Upper Secondary Graduation Rate, 2004 26 THE MEASURE OF AMERICA | AMERICAN HUMAN DEVELOPMENT REPORT 2008–2009

Teenage Pregnancy

Income Index Median Earnings for the Population 16 and Older STATE MAP Income Index Median Earnings for the Population 16 and Older BOTTOM: MT $22K The U.S. Median Earnings are $27,299 TOP: DC $37K 28 THE MEASURE OF AMERICA | AMERICAN HUMAN DEVELOPMENT REPORT 2008–2009

Income Index Median Earnings for the Population 16 and Older CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT MAP Income Index Median Earnings for the Population 16 and Older The U.S. Median Earnings are $27,299 TOP: CD 14, NY $51K BOTTOM: CD20, CA $17K 29 THE MEASURE OF AMERICA | AMERICAN HUMAN DEVELOPMENT REPORT 2008–2009

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Share of Household Income by Quintile, 2006 31 THE MEASURE OF AMERICA | AMERICAN HUMAN DEVELOPMENT REPORT 2008–2009

Median Net Worth, by Race 32 THE MEASURE OF AMERICA | AMERICAN HUMAN DEVELOPMENT REPORT 2008–2009

Child Poverty: % of children in poor households

How can we build American’s assets? United Kingdom’s Baby Bond Act Launched in 2005 Savings account for every British child At birth and again at age seven– automatic £250 Low-income children get double Families can add more money tax-free

Employment & Income: Family-friendly policies More than three out of four mothers of school-aged children are in the workforce. Women pay a “caring penalty” in jobs: lower paychecks, smaller retirement accounts, job loss. In the U.S. there is no federally required: paid maternity leave (171 countries) right to breastfeed (107 countries) annual paid vacation (137 countries) paid sick leave (145 countries)

What will it take to boost HD scores?

Who’s poor in America? Poverty among elderly and kids has declined dramatically

8-Point Human Development Agenda Promote prevention. Make health care affordable for all Americans. Modernize K–12 education. Invest in at-risk kids, the earlier the better. Strengthen and support families. Boost incomes and aid asset-building. Launch a Marshall Plan for the Gulf. Take responsibility for the most vulnerable. THE MEASURE OF AMERICA | AMERICAN HUMAN DEVELOPMENT REPORT 2008–2009

Website: measureofamerica.org Check out the Interactive Maps! 39 THE MEASURE OF AMERICA | AMERICAN HUMAN DEVELOPMENT REPORT 2008–2009

Thank You www.measureofamerica.org