4.8.3 Evaluating the Different Approaches

• All development indicators have limitations
• Due to the multi-dimensional nature of economic development, it is necessary to use a range of indicators in order to gain insights into the many dimensions of quality of life, well-being, human development and happiness
• Composite indicators provide better insight than single indicators
• Single indicators can be useful in targeting just one aspect - or in prioritising different aspects of development
• Qualitative data is used to measure many aspects of economic development and this can be subject to bias and errors in data interpretation
• It requires time to gather qualitative data and this means that the data often lags reality by several years
• Data collection and statistical reporting is subject to political agendas and often the data presented has to be questioned in light of these e.g. many Middle East countries moved from the bottom third to the top third in the Gender Inequality index (GII) in 2017, a very unlikely transition in such a short time period
   

The Advantages and Disadvantages of Using the HDI

• Data shows that economic growth often has a very positive impact on economic development
• Economic growth can lead to higher income, however, the equity in the distribution of this income influences the level of economic development that occurs as a result
  • Where the equity in distribution is higher, economic development is greater
  • Where the equity in distribution is lower, economic development is lower
• In most cases growth precedes development, but his is not always true e.g. Bangladesh used a range of strategies (including micro-finance) to transform the quality of life for many households
  
• In some cases (usually in developing countries) economic growth is tied to one industry & generates so many negative externalities of production that the standard of living decreases for many even as growth increases