Human Development
Introduction:
The dogmatic classical belief always confused ‘growth’ to be synonyms with ‘development’. Economists were obsessed with growth for growth’s sake. As a result, they overlooked the qualitative values essential to development. Growth is purely quantitative, essentially refers to a per capita GNP based measurement.
It’s true that qualitative values leading to the development of human well-being and happiness are harder to measure, but are of equal importance. “While measurement is essential, we must not be led to believe that only those things which can be measured have value". (Max-Neef, Manfred.1981)
Though, Growth of GNP Per capita is suppose to contribute to a general rise in standard of living; and sooner or later, is thought to lead to the solutions of social and political problems, experiences of past decade in developing countries contradicts these suppositions.Infact,in some cases, a certain type of economic growth have fueled social and political problems.
(Seers, Dudley. 1969).
The ‘Middle East Contradiction’ further supports the fact, that oil exporting Gulf countries have higher GNP per capita( than developed countries like America), but lower health, education, standard of living and socio-economic equity (than underdeveloped countries like India). The basic reason underlining this contradiction is the inadequate socio-cultural & political freedom, and lack of intellectual & technological know- how of this countries. In other words, this contradiction occurs primarily due to the inability of these ‘growing’ nations to canalize their gains from growth for betterment of humanity. Examples of humble nations like Georgia, Indonesia and Jamaica with smaller GNP but higher development parameters could be sited to back the argument that GNP is just a necessary, but not sufficient enough for people centric development. South Africa in spite of having a very high per capita income achieved low level of human development. (HDR 2003). A country’s GNP may grow at a faster rate, yet only a small proportion of its population may actually be benefited. Besides, ‘growing’ countries mostly suffer from dual economies, characterized by rich and poor, urban and rural, different social class etc.Thus, Inequality in inherent in growth.
The birth of modern development concepts and theories has shifted the base and pillared itself predominantly on qualitative grounds. Development is viewed as Growth (quantitative) + Equity (qualitative). ‘Growth’, how ever, being the necessary condition and socio-economic, cultural, technological and intellectual upliftment being the sufficient. More specifically, Economists have realized that both ‘end’ and the ‘means’ of economic development has to be human beings themselves.
Development is normative in nature and literally means ‘improvement’ (an immeasurable entity). A developed society reflects images of people with more choice, minimum discrepancy between rich and poor (sizeable middle class),Equal social , political and economic opportunity for all, high Per-capita Civilization (easy accessibility to basic minimum requirements like food, clothing and shelter, medication, sanitation, nutrition and hygiene),Free from any discrimination(on the basis of gender,colour,race,religion),Social and Political rights & freedom , Cultural and intellectual upliftment, Low crime rates& over all Improved Quality of life.
"The basic purpose of development is to enlarge people's choices. In principle, these choices can be infinite and can change over time. People often value achievements that do not show up at all, or not immediately, in income or growth figures: greater access to knowledge, better nutrition and health services, more secure livelihoods, security against crime and physical violence, satisfying leisure hours, political and cultural freedoms and sense of participation in community activities. The objective of development is to create an enabling environment for people to enjoy long, healthy and creative lives." (Haq, Mahboob Ul 1976).
Birth of human development
Mahboob Ul Haq was concerned that development economists had forgotten that, in thinking about development, their focus must be human beings. There was a need thus, for an approach which would account human progress and misery. Just as there are systems of national accounts giving details on investment in capital and machinery and income, there needed to be tables cataloguing the state and progress of human lives-'a human balance sheet'(Haq,1995) According to Haq, “the defining difference between the economic growth and the human development schools is that the first focuses exclusively on the expansion of only one choice, i.e., income while the second embraces the enlargement of all human choices whether economic, social, cultural or political” (Haq, Mahboob Ul 1976)
The Makers
.The concept was developed in 1990 by Pakistani economist Mahbub ul Haq, Amartya Sen, with help from Gustav Ranis of Yale University and Lord Meghnad Desai of the London School of Economics.
The Measurement
The HD concept bases itself on the average achievements in a country in three basic dimensions of human development:
→ A long and healthy life, as measured by life expectancy at birth.
→ Knowledge, as measured by the adult literacy rate (with two-thirds weight) and the combined primary, secondary, and tertiary gross enrolment ratio (with one-third weight).
→ A decent standard of living, as measured by the log of gross domestic product (GDP) per capita at purchasing power parity (PPP) in USD.
Different Development Approaches with Human touch:
Human capital formation approach:
Theories of human capital formation or human resource development view human beings as instruments for furthering commodity production.Human capital is thought to the fifth factor of production. They are concerned only with the production side, with human beings primarily as ‘means’ rather than as ‘ends’ (participatory /utility creation approach)
Human welfare approach:
Human welfare approaches look at human beings more as the beneficiaries of the development process than as participants in it. It projects the other side, human beings is emphasized primarily as ‘ends’ rather than as ‘means’ (Beneficiary/satisfaction approach)
Basic needs approach:
The basic needs approach usually concentrates on the bundle of goods and services such as food, shelter, clothing, health care and water that deprived population group needs. It focuses on the provision of these goods and services rather than on the issue of human choices.
(Subsistence)
Human development:
Human development is a concept that juxtaposes both Participatory (utility creation) approach and Beneficiary (satisfaction) approach. Human beings are both participants (means) as well as beneficiaries (end) in this development process-‘for the people, by the people’. It is about expanding the choices of people and creating an environment in which people can develop their full potential and lead productive, creative lives in accord with their needs and interests. (HRD, 2006).
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