Purpose of measuring HDI of nation
Answers
This is the official version of what constitutes the Human Development Index, and what it sets out to achieve.
The simpler form is that they are statistics which are based on life expectancy, how good the particular country’s education system is, coupled with its financial stability or instability. This data is then incorporated in a comprehensive list of worldwide countries where one can see at a glance who is faring well and who not so well.
It is important to know for many reasons which countries are considered to be fully developed, which are still in the throes of developing, and which are still subsequently undeveloped and need much support. Whether they get that support and where it is to come from is another question. However, it is important to know a country’s standing in the world for many reasons, the primary being economic, for migration purposes, for world trade purposes, and for support purposes.
The Index however should not be considered as comprehensive and there are really more factors to be calculated than the basic three which have been mentioned above. It does not reflect policies or achievements of individual countries and show long term outcomes rather than short term indications. Furthermore it does not show the disparities and inequalities within countries with regard to gender, religions, race and ethnic groups which is a big consideration to omit.
When researching this I cam across a very good metaphor that actually puts HDI in perspective:
Look at HDI as representing a house. HDI is actually only the door. One should not mistake the door to be the house and not stop at the door because this particular house needs to be explored further to get a more realistic and comprehensive picture.