Human Development Overview

Introduction

• Human Development Report (HDR): First introduced in 1990 by the Human Development Report Office (HDRO) to advance human flourishing.
• 25th Anniversary: 2015 marked 25 years since the initial report.
• Purpose: To understand human development in varying global contexts.

Historical Context

• GDP Concerns: By the early 1960s, GDP was criticized as an inadequate measure of wellbeing.
  • Originally, GDP was not meant to assess wellbeing.
• Development Alternatives (1970s-80s): The focus shifted to employment, redistribution with growth, and basic human needs.

Human Development Approach

• Concept: Focuses on expanding the richness of human life, not just economic wealth.
• Objective: To create fair opportunities and choices for all individuals.

Key Aspects of Human Development

• People-Centric: Improvement of life quality over mere income growth.
• Opportunities:
  • Empowering individuals to live valued lives.
  • Development of skills and access to resources like education and employment.
  • Foundational aspects include health, knowledge, and standard of living.
  • Contextual elements like environmental sustainability and gender equality are crucial.
• Choices:
  • Development is about providing opportunities, not enforcing their use.
  • Ensures environment for individual and collective potential development.

Influential Theories

• Developed by: Economist Mahbub Ul Haq.
• Influenced by: Amartya Sen's work on human capabilities.
  • Focuses on enabling people to be and do things they value.
  • Examples:
    • Beings: Well-nourished, sheltered, healthy.
    • Doings: Employment, education, civic participation.
• Freedom of Choice: Differentiates between voluntary actions and enforced conditions.

Future Implications

• Post-2015 Development Agenda:
  • Human development approach remains vital.
  • Ensures equitable, sustainable, and stable global development.

Notable References

• Robert Kennedy (1968): Criticized GDP as a measure of progress.
• Simon Kuznets: Creator of GDP, cautioned against its use for wellbeing assessment.
• Recognition: Amartya Sen received the Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences in 1998 for welfare economics.

Additional Resources

• More Information: Human Development Reports