Model Answer
0 min readIntroduction
The Human Development Index (HDI), introduced by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in 1990, is a composite statistic used to rank countries by level of “human development” based on life expectancy, education, and per capita income indicators. However, the standard HDI doesn’t reveal gender disparities within countries. Recognizing this limitation, the UNDP developed gender-sensitive indices like the Gender Development Index (GDI) and the Gender Inequality Index (GII) to provide a more nuanced understanding of development. These indices aim to capture the extent to which women are disadvantaged relative to men in key dimensions of human development.
Understanding the Standard HDI
The HDI is calculated as the geometric mean of three dimensions:
- Life Expectancy Index: Based on life expectancy at birth.
- Education Index: Based on mean years of schooling and expected years of schooling.
- Income Index: Based on Gross National Income (GNI) per capita.
Each dimension is normalized to a scale of 0 to 1, and then the geometric mean is calculated.
Constructing the Gender Development Index (GDI)
The GDI is simply the HDI adjusted to account for gender inequality. It is calculated as:
GDI = (HDImale - HDIfemale) / HDI
Where:
- HDImale is the HDI for males.
- HDIfemale is the HDI for females.
- HDI is the overall HDI for the country.
The GDI reveals the absolute difference in HDI scores between men and women. A GDI closer to 1 indicates greater gender equality, while a lower value signifies a larger gap.
Constructing the Gender Inequality Index (GII)
The GII measures gender inequalities in three dimensions: reproductive health, empowerment, and the labour market. It is calculated as:
GII = √[ (Maternal Mortality Ratio)2 / (Antenatal care utilization)2 + (Share of parliamentary seats held by women)2 + (Labour force participation rate of female and male)2 ]
The GII ranges from 0 to 1, where 0 represents perfect gender equality and 1 represents complete inequality. The components are:
- Reproductive Health: Measured by maternal mortality ratio and antenatal care utilization.
- Empowerment: Measured by the share of parliamentary seats held by women.
- Economic Empowerment: Measured by the labour force participation rate of women and men.
Steps for Construction
- Data Collection: Gather sex-disaggregated data for each component of HDI (life expectancy, education, income) and GII (maternal mortality, parliamentary representation, labour force participation).
- Calculate HDI for Males and Females: Compute separate HDI scores for males and females using the standard HDI formula.
- Calculate GDI: Apply the GDI formula using the calculated HDI scores for males and females.
- Calculate GII: Collect data for the three dimensions of GII and apply the GII formula.
- Interpretation: Analyze the GDI and GII values to understand the extent of gender inequality in the country.
Limitations and Considerations
While GDI and GII are valuable tools, they have limitations. They rely on the availability and accuracy of sex-disaggregated data, which may be limited in some countries. Furthermore, they don't capture all aspects of gender inequality, such as violence against women or unequal access to property rights. The indices also assume equal weighting for each dimension, which may not reflect the specific priorities of a country.
Conclusion
Constructing gender-sensitive human development indices like the GDI and GII is crucial for a comprehensive assessment of a nation’s progress. These indices move beyond the limitations of the standard HDI by highlighting disparities between genders in crucial areas like health, education, and economic participation. Continued refinement of these indices, alongside improved data collection, will be essential for formulating effective policies aimed at achieving gender equality and sustainable development.
Answer Length
This is a comprehensive model answer for learning purposes and may exceed the word limit. In the exam, always adhere to the prescribed word count.