Indices and Indicators in Development: An Unhealthy Obsession with NumbersRoutledge, 2013 M06 17 - 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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... International Institute for Environment and Development A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Morse, Stephen, 1957–Indices and indicators in development ...
... International Institute for Environment and Development A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library Library of Congress Cataloging—in—Publication Data Morse, Stephen, 1957—Indices and indicators in development ...
... International in 2002 146 6.1 Data employed in the analysis of the relationship between real GDP/capita and national intelligence 164 6.2 Countries with the largest residuals following a regression analysis between GDP/capita and ...
... International Gross National Income (similar to GNP) Gross National Product (similar to GNI) Genuine Progress ... International Comparison Programme Index of Dissimilarity International Labour Organization Institute for Management ...
... International United Nations United Nations Development Programme United Nations Environment Programme United Nations Economics and Social Council United Nations Research Institute for Social Development World Bank's World Business ...
Contents
1 | |
Economics | 33 |
Poverty | 60 |
4 Integrating Development Indicators | 83 |
5 The Precarious Art of Simplfying Complexity | 118 |
6 Taking Care With Development Indicators | 150 |
7 A Comparative Indicatorology | 176 |
Notes | 184 |
References | 185 |
Factor Analysis A Brief Introduction | 194 |
Index | 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 |