HL Extension

Unit 5: Human development and diversity

5.1. Development opportunities

Ways of supporting the processes of human development

The multidimensional process of human development and ways to measure it:

  1. How do we measure development?
  2. What are single index measurement?
  3. Why are they misleading?

Here we go again!

  1. What specific criteria of the SDGs do you remember?
  2. How are they measured?
  3. How are countries expected to reach their goals?
  4. What are some flaws in this system?
  1. What are the three variables of the HDI?
  2. What are the benefits?
  3. Whst are the drawbacks?

The HDI – human development index – is a summary composite index that measures a country's average achievements in three basic aspects of human development:

  • Health
  • Knowledge
  • Standard of living

Health is measured by Life Expectancy: the age to which a newborn can expect to live.

It is impacted by advancements in

  • medicine
  • sanitation
  • nutrition

Increased life expectancy has contributed in part to the sharp rise in the world's population,

  • Over-crowding
  • Food shortages.

In countries with a high rate of infant deaths, average-life-expectancy statistics are obviously lowered.

Knowledge is measured by a combination of the adult literacy rate and the combined primary, secondary, and tertiary gross enrolment ratio

  • Literacy means a reading-and-writing level that suits the nation's labor needs.
  • A high or low literacy rate reflects a country's economic development, as well as the effectiveness (or existence) of its public-school system.
  • Social advancement in any nation usually requires an education.
  • Combined first-, second- and third-level gross enrollment ratio (%): This statistic denotes mean years of schooling.

Standard of living is measured with Real GDP per capita (PPP$, or purchasing power parity dollars)

  • This figure is used as a way of comparing the wealth of countries.
  • Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is the sum value of all goods and services produced within a country in a year.
  • GDP/capita is only an average; it does not indicate how equitable wealth is distributed.
  • In some nations, wealth is concentrated in the hands of a few people, while the majority live in poverty.
  • Countries with high per capita GDP may still have low HDI rates. The difference lies in the way national leaders set their priorities and allocate government funds.

See also UNDP Human Development Report

Gender Equality

Read Hana Rosin's The Gender Wage Gap Lie

Discuss:

    • Statistics are misleading
    • What is the true cause of gender inequality in the workforce?
    • Does this apply in LICs? How is it different?
    • Are women more equal in LICs or MICs? Explain
    • What is the difference between women equality and women empowerment?

Review: Factors Affecting Fertility Rate

  • Status of Women
  • Level of education
  • Employment opportunities
  • Type of residence
  • Religion of parents
  • Level of available health care
  • Machismo
  • Perceived cost of having children
  • Pressure from the government

Can these be indicators of equality in a given region?

Gender Inequality Index (GII)

The GII measures gender inequality in three aspects of human development

Range is 0 to 1, with 1 being complete inequality

  • Reproductive Health
    • Maternal Mortality Ratio
    • Adolescent birth rates
  • Gender Empowerment
    • Parliamentary seat ratio
    • Secondary school attendance ratio
  • Economic Status
    • Labour force ration

Change over time

  • What factors affect gender inequality?
  • What can be done to reduce the inequality?

Development may drive gender equality by itself

According to Hans Rosling:

  • what is the main driver of development?
  • How can women be empowered?
  • How can we reduce birth rates?

Exercise: Socratic seminar

You should have read UN Women: Women Empowerment Principles.

Let's discuss these questions:

  • What did you get from the reading?
  • What are human rights?
  • "In an increasingly globalized and interconnected world, utilizing all social and economic assets is crucial for success. " What does this mean for women?
  • "Current research demonstrating that gender diversity helps business perform better signals that self interest and common interest can come together" Discuss this statement? Give examples where it is applicable.
  • At what scale can each principle be applied?
  • How can these principles be applied?
  • What is the importance of medical care in women empowerment?
  • Which Principles into Practice: Company Examples example was most noteworthy to you? Explain?
    • Which one has the most potential for social change?
  • Why is measuring and reporting important?
  • How are global interactions important in the implementation of the principles?
  • What Facts and Figures stood out for you?
  • What is the correlation between Women Empowerment and Health?
  • What is the difference between gender equality and gender equity?
  • What is sex-dissaggregated data?


Empowering women and indigenous or minority groups

  • Empowerment is the process of increasing the capacity of individuals or groups to make choices and to transform those choices into desired actions and outcomes. (World Bank)
  • Affirmative Action: An economic policy of favoring members of a disadvantaged group. Sometimes described as positive discrimination.
  • Entrepreneurship: the activity of setting up a business or businesses, taking on financial risks in the hope of profit.
  • Social entrepreneurship: is the use of start-up companies and other entrepreneurs to develop, fund and implement solutions to social, cultural, or environmental issues.

World Vision: 7 ways to empower women

As you watch the video, take notes on:

  • The specific initiative to empower women in Nepal
  • The importance of entrepreneurship
  • The consequences on women, their community and Nepal's economy

Detailed "illustrative" examples of affirmative action to close the development gap

Western Upland Poverty Alleviation Project (WUPAP), Nepal

As you watch the video, take detailed notes about:

  • The minority group(s) targeted by WUPAP
  • The obstacles to their empowerment
  • The aims of the project
  • The obstacles to the region's development
  • The outcomes of the project (SPEED)

The importance of social entrepreneurship approaches for human development:

The work of microfinance organizations and their networks

Microfinance, also called microcredit​, is a type of banking service that is provided to unemployed or low-income individuals or groups who otherwise would have no other access to financial services. (Source)

Discuss:

  • How does microfinancing work?
  • Who are the target recipients?
  • What benefits can microfinancing bring to:
    • The recipients
    • their community
  • What are the risks involved for
    • The banks
    • the microcredit agencies
    • the recipients
    • their community

Alternative trading networks such as “Fairtrade” (review from Food Unit)

TNC corporate social responsibility frameworks and global agreements (Review from 4.2 Global Networks and Flows)

Fair Trade

CSR

In groups of two, go back to the Food unit and HL unit 4.2, describe and evaluate of these:

  • A fairtrade coffee company
  • A fairtrade chocolate company
  • Tata's CSR (N&C p. 548-550)
  • Apple's CSR (N&C p. 548-550)
  • A global agreement of TNCs to promote human development

Synthesis:

How actions to support human development involve spatial interactions from local to global scales