NEW METHOD OF CALCULATING HUMAN DEVELOPMENT INDEX (HDI)

Abstract

HDI is a composite measure of human development, reflecting the attainment of the common aspiration for abundant health, knowledge and high level of income. Before 2010, the HDI was used to measure a country's achievements in three dimensions: a long and healthy life measured by the average life expectancy expected at birth; knowledge of the population measured by the adult literacy rate and enrollment rates at all levels; people’s standard of living measured by gross domestic product (GDP) per capita and adjusted for purchasing power parity method (Purchasing Power Parity - PPP), in US - dollars USD. However, the content and methodology of the HDI also have limitations. So since 2010, HDI has been calculated using a new formula with changes in the composition and method of calculating promulgated by UNDP (United Nations Development Program). The article mentions the factors and method of calculating the HDI in both ways and gives specific examples.