Open Learning July-December -2010 - The National Institute of ...

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Open Learning July-December 2010
Measuring HDI
We started with the premise that the concept of
GDP does not capture the real well being of the
country and this is what we find in the India’s
growth analysis. Truly Indian economy is
emerging. Our economic growth rate tells this
with proud, but when this is put before the test of
HDI, the picture becomes blurred. This is the
speciality of Human Development Index and
HDR.
India made attempts to calculate HDI for various
states in the year 2001. This task was carried out
by the Planning Commission and the first Indian
HDR published in 2001. HDI was calculated
separately for rural and urban areas for all the
states for the years 1981 and 1991. For selected
states, it was done for the year 2001. State level
HDRs in India have also been published for which
district level HDIs have been calculated.
The National Council of Applied Economic
Research, New Delhi, the Indira Gandhi Institute
of Developmental Studies, Mumbai and the State
Governments have now published Human
Development Reports alongwith Human
Development Index.
HDI has proved very useful for taking policy
decisions particularly for the social sector
activities. It has made various states conscious
with regard to human developmental strategies
rather than depending heavily on per capita
income indicator.
Epilogue
Having gone through the above presentation, it
would be worthwhile for the learners to remember
few important things. Whenever any terms in
economics is used, it should be discussed in the
right perspective. In layman’s language, some
words/terms are used. These are also used in
Economics but their meanings and in-built
coverage are changed. Hence, it will always be
appropriate to consult standard Economics
dictionaries to get the real meaning of the word/
term. Also, standard Economics books should be
consulted for study. Further, learners often come
across the data on economic items, which differ
from one source to another. It is, therefore,
appropriate for students of Economics to depend
only on the Government data. For reliable
economic data, use Economic Survey (latest year),
India-Reference Manual (latest year), Reserve
Bank of India Publications, Planning
Commission’s publications, Central Statistical
Organisation Publications etc.
Economics, as we know, ‘is a science which
studies human behaviour….’ Different
economists give different views on economic
concepts. The learner should study all the views
and take a rational view of his/her own. This
approach will make the subject interesting and
may turn such learner as future economist.
References
1) Adam Kuper and Jessica Kuper (Eds.), The Social
Science Encyclopedia, (3 rd Edition) Routledge, Oxon,
Paper back edition.
2) Amit Bahaduri, Essays in the Reconstruction of
Political Economy, Aakar Books, Delhi, 2010.
3) Govt. of India, Economic Survey 2009-10, Oxford
University Press, New Delhi, 2010.
4) Mahbub ul Haq, Reflection on Human Development
in Readings in Human Development, New Delhi,
Oxford University Press, 2003.
5) N.R.Narayana Murthy, A Better India, A Better World,
Penguin, Allan Lane, New Delhi, 2009.
6) Shankar Acharya and Rakesh Mohan (Eds), India’s
Economy Performance and Challenges, Oxford
University Press, New Delhi, 2010.
7) UNDP, Human Development Report, 1990 : Concept
and Measurement of Human Development, Oxford,
1990 (also reports of various years)
8) World Bank, World Development Report, 2010,
Development and Climate Change, IBRD,
Washington D.C., 2010
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