Indices and Indicators in Development: An Unhealthy Obsession with NumbersEarthscan, 2013 - 224 pages The use of numbers to condense complex systems into easily digested 'bites' of information is very much in fashion. At one level they are intended to enhance transparency, accountability and local democracy, while at another they provide a means of enhancing performance. However, all indicators suffer from the same basic problem that, ironically, is also their biggest advantage - condensing something highly complex into a few simple numbers. Love them or hate them, there is no denying that people use indicators to make decisions.Indices and Indicators explores the use of indicators within the field of human development. Part I provides a brief outline of the contested meaning of 'development' and how indices and indicators have been used as means of testing the realization of these development visions in practice in a range of institutional contexts. Part II discusses the limitations of such indices and indicators and illustrates how they are dependent upon the vision of development adopted. The book also suggests how indices and indicators can best be employed and presented.Given our overwhelming reliance on indices and indicators for measuring progress, directing policy and allocating resources, this book is essential core reading for academics, undergraduate and post-graduate students in social science, economics, geography and development studies as well as development practitioners, policy-makers and donor and international funding agencies. |
From inside the book
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Page viii
... Maximum tax rates applied to corporate income (2003) 52 2.6 Modifying the GDP 55 2.7 Some attempts to modify the GDP and GNP 55 2.8 An example of the components of the genuine progress indicator 56 3.1 Example of how depth of poverty ...
... Maximum tax rates applied to corporate income (2003) 52 2.6 Modifying the GDP 55 2.7 Some attempts to modify the GDP and GNP 55 2.8 An example of the components of the genuine progress indicator 56 3.1 Example of how depth of poverty ...
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Contents
Simplifying Complexity | 1 |
Development Indicators Economics | 33 |
Development Indicators Poverty | 60 |
Integrating Development Indicators | 83 |
The Precarious Art of Simplfying Complexity | 118 |
Taking Care with Development Indicators | 150 |
A Comparative Indicatorology | 176 |
Notes | 184 |
185 | |
Factor Analysis | 194 |
203 | |
Other editions - View all
Indices and Indicators in Development: An Unhealthy Obsession with Numbers Stephen Morse Limited preview - 2013 |
Indices and Indicators in Development: An Unhealthy Obsession with Numbers Stephen Morse Limited preview - 2013 |
Indices and Indicators in Development: An Unhealthy Obsession with Numbers? Stephen Morse Limited preview - 2004 |
Common terms and phrases
adjusted aggregated Argentina benefit calculation cent Chapter complex consumption correlation Corruption Perception Index costs data sets defined definition depth of poverty Development Index HDI development indices distribution economic indicators Environmental Sustainability Index example exchange rates expectancy expenditure figures final find first five FTSE GDP and GNP GDP/capita Genuine Progress Indicator Gini coefficient graph HDI components Headcount Ratio higher Human Development Index Human Development Report included Income Gap Ratio India influence Ispra league table logarithm Lynn and Vanhanen Malaysia maximum means measure methodology national intelligence Nigeria percentile points population Poverty Gap Index Poverty Index poverty line presented problems Programme reflect regression relative Republic residuals result scores Sen’s significant Singapore specifically standard deviation surveys sustainable development three components transformation Transparency International UNDP University variables variation z-value