2. 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?

3. 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

4. What is
Human Development?

5. 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

6. Human Development Concept6
THE MEASURE OF AMERICA | AMERICAN HUMAN DEVELOPMENT REPORT 2008–2009

7. Measuring Human Development7
THE MEASURE OF AMERICA | AMERICAN HUMAN DEVELOPMENT REPORT 2008–2009

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

9. Possible Benefits of a
New Approach

10. 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

11. What the HD Index Reveals

12. 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

13. 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

14. 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

15. HD Index 15

16. 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

17. 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

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

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

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

21. 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.

22. 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:

23. 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

24. 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

25. 25
THE MEASURE OF AMERICA | AMERICAN HUMAN DEVELOPMENT REPORT 2008–2009

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

27. Teenage Pregnancy

28. 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

29. 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

30. 30
THE MEASURE OF AMERICA | AMERICAN HUMAN DEVELOPMENT REPORT 2008–2009

31. Share of Household Income by Quintile, 200631
THE MEASURE OF AMERICA | AMERICAN HUMAN DEVELOPMENT REPORT 2008–2009

32. Median Net Worth, by Race32
THE MEASURE OF AMERICA | AMERICAN HUMAN DEVELOPMENT REPORT 2008–2009

33. Child Poverty: % of children in poor households

34. 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

35. 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)

36. What will it take to boost HD scores?

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

38. 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

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

40. Thank You