Human Development as an alternative development paradigm

1. Human Development as an alternative development paradigm Frances Stewart

2. 2 Introduction to Human Development Aim to provide brief overview of historical evolution of ideas leading to HD. Note key antecedents � Basic Needs (BN) and Capabilities. Contrast between these. Present main features of HD approach What difference does it make? HD and economic growth Dimensions of HD beyond the HDI How does it relate to other dominant strategies

3. 3 The logic of changing strategies Not just a matter of fashion. A cyclical rational process � starts with �facts� of situation; gives rise to theories and to new policies; policies affect situation; hence new �facts�. There is a dialectical or cyclical interaction between events, thought, policies and events.

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5. 5 A more complex view �facts� not objective; depends on whose lenses are used. Interests powerful. Development theories borrow heavily from thought in advanced countries, especially because of dominant role of West in advanced education; and in International Financial institutions. Theory is very persistent � colours how facts are viewed. No single view.

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8. 8 Historical evolution of thought about development:post-colonialism Colonial legacy - low incomes - low savings/investment - appalling health; low literacy - primary production, with little manufacturing - total dependency Incomes per capita one tenth or less of industrialised countries Investment/savings rates at around 5% of GNP Infant mortality rates at over 300 per 1,000 Primary production 95% of exports, often only a single product.Incomes per capita one tenth or less of industrialised countries Investment/savings rates at around 5% of GNP Infant mortality rates at over 300 per 1,000 Primary production 95% of exports, often only a single product.

9. 9 Development thinking when countries gained independence Major emphasis on economic growth (Rostow; Lewis; Hirschman). Using �surplus� labour. (Nurkse; Lewis) On industrialisation and raising investment as mechanisms. (Mahalanobis; Rosenstein-Rodan) In parallel, emphasis on costs of dependence (Prebish/Singer; Frank; Amin; Sunkel). General neglect of �human� dimension � thought it would be looked after automatically through growth.

10. 10 Growth and industrialisation did follow

11. 11 But challenge to growth followed Why Rising unemployment; high underemployment Poverty still high and increasing in absolute terms Dependency remained � finance, technology, management. Growth of GNP neglects income distribution, public goods, employment � all essential for improving quality of life. The ILO '..it has become increasingly evident, particularly from the experience of the developing countries, that rapid growth at the national level does not automatically reduce poverty or inequality or provide sufficient productive employment' (ILO, 1976, Employment, Growth and Basic Needs: A One-World Problem, p 15)

12. 12 Defects of focus on money incomes. Income distribution critically important Neglects public goods (and externalities more generally). Assumes utilitarian philosophy. Money income measures utility. Utility should be maximised. �Physical condition neglect�. Entrenched deprivation can become acceptable. Is consequentialist. Neglects agency goals (how you get there � e.g. child labour). Assumes people only consider OWN welfare.

13. 13 Succession of challenges to growth only agenda from 1970s �Dethronement� of GNP (Seers) Employment objective emphasised: ILO missions to Colombia, Sri Lanka � led by Seers. Redistribution with growth (Chenery, Singer and others). Basic needs (ILO, WB, Ghai, Streeten, Ranis, Stewart). Capabilities (Sen) Human Development Why employment: But why employment? Employment is a means to achieve various objectives, including incomes, production and recognition. Hence move to focus on incomes of the poor � redistribution with growth. Po Why employment: But why employment? Employment is a means to achieve various objectives, including incomes, production and recognition. Hence move to focus on incomes of the poor � redistribution with growth. Po

14. 14 Explaining evolution Employment objective of ILO early 1970s: But why employment? Employment is a means to achieve various objectives, including incomes, production and recognition Hence move to focus on incomes of the poor. Redistribution with growth (RWG). Is the strategy feasible technically? Politically? Is it right to focus on money incomes?

15. 15 Human well-being goes beyond money incomes Basic needs approach: Poor need certain basic goods and services (BN). Income a means. But doesn�t provide public goods. And effectiveness of incomes of households depends on household distribution. Hence BN. But how to identify what poor need? True objective is not consumption of goods and services (commodity fetishism � Sen), but to lead a decent life (DL). Metaproduction function of BN approach, translates BN goods and services into quality of life. E.g. DL = f(a, b, c d�.), or Decent life depends on consumption of food, health services, shelter�.

16. 16 2. Sen and capabilities Goal of development is to enhance people�s potential to be and do. Potential beings and doings are capabilities [but only things �people have reason to value�] Actual beings and doings are functionings. Incomes an important means but capabilities go well beyond incomes. Freedom to choose critical in this approach� hence capabilities not functionings. Big emphasis on personal characteristics in translation from resources to functionings. Approach relevant to rich as well as poor countries, rich as well as poor people � big advantage compared with BN.

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18. 18 The international agenda, historically BN dominant end 1970s � ILO and Macnamara at WB. (Mahbub ul Haq prominent) Displaced by debt crisis, and adjustment. Increased role of market; liberalisation Growth and poverty displaced. Rising poverty in the 1980s � led to reemphasis on poverty UNICEF, Adjustment with a Human Face, 1987. 1990 first Human Development Report.(and Poverty Report of World Bank) 2000: MDGs

19. 19 First Human Development Report Many of the ideas initiated by succession of meetings of North-South Roundtable, some in collaboration with UNDP. UNDP, under William Draper, invited M.ul Haq to write report. Team led by Mahbub ul Haq. Team included: Gustav Ranis, Amartya Sen, Frances Stewart, Keith Griffin, Meghnad Desai, Aziz Khan, Paul Streeten Capabilities and BN thinkers and advocates. Brought two threads together.

20. 20 William Draper�s Foreword to first Report �The Report is of a seminal nature. It makes a contribution to the definition,measurement and policy analysis of human development. It opens the debate�. I hope the Report and its annual sequels � will make a significant contribution to the development dialogue in the 1990s..�

21. 21 What is HD? �Human development is a process of enlarging people�s choices. The most critical ones are to lead a long and healthy life, to be educated and to enjoy a decent standard of living. Additional choices include political freedom, guaranteed human rights and self-respect� (HDRO 1990) Puts human beings at the centre, not incomes� �people are the real wealth of a nation. The basic objective of development is to create an enabling environment for people to live long, healthy and creative lives� (HDRO 1990) Kant: �so act as to treat humanity, whether in their own person or that of any other, in every case as an end withal, never as a means only�

22. 22 Some key aspects of HD Humans are ends not means Incomes are means not end. In practice major focus is on BN type goods and services, but also discusses other issues (freedom, democracy, gender, environment, communities, culture) � it is open ended. Considers topics relevant to more developed countries. All issues brought in which may affect human beings� potential. Freedom to choose given priority � I.e. HD concerns widening human choices. Yet accepts that humans are an important resource too as well as being the objective of development.

23. 23 Advantages compared with BN and capability approaches Goes beyond �basic�. Much better to have an approach that encompasses all nations and income levels. Goes beyond physical condition to institutional and political elements. Tries to add up and assess country progress. Here better than capability approach. To some extent a political agenda, work-in-progress, a rallying cry for all those seeking human and humane alternatives, evaluating our current condition.

24. 24 What difference does HD approach make, adopting HDI as measure? Country Ranking Policies

25. 25 Correlations between HDI, GNP p. cap. and LE, 2000

26. 26 To note Correlation weaker between LE and GNP than HDI and GNP Weak correlation especially for HDI/GNP p. cap. For low HD countries

27. 27 Examples of success and failure among developing countries � ex. transition countries, 2005

28. 28 Characteristics of success Many paths to HD success including good growth (Singapore;S.Korea) good distribution of income: Cyprus, Barbados. well targeted social expenditures (Chile). But in general successes give priority to girls and women (education/incomes): have high social expenditures as share of national income (Barbados, Malta, Kuwait) Good economic performance helps

29. 29 Characteristics of failure Conflict is a major source of failure (9/10) AIDS Inegalitarian income distribution Low social expenditure Poor position of women Economic failures.

30. 30 Countries with major difference in ranking, on HDI compared with GNP per capita HD better than GNP Socialist and ex-socialist; (e.g. Cuba, Vietnam, Ukraine) Social democrat, strong emphasis on social sectors (e.g. Chile, Costa Rica) Failed economies (Congo, Madagascar) 2. GNP better than HD Mineral rich economies (e.g. Algeria; Angola; Saudi Arabia) AIDs -affected (Botswana, S.Africa; Burkina Faso)

31. 31 Relationship between HD and economic growth Close. Two Chains: From economy to HD (private and social incomes) From HD to economy (skills and productivity of work force.

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34. 34 Virtuous and vicious cycles of development Vicious and virtuous cycles of development. �Lopsided development, possible in short run. Yet to move into virtuous category must give priority to HD. No country has succeeded in this strategy Growth first DOES NOT WORK

35. 35 Cycles of development

36. 36 HD: The unfinished agenda HD has too much been identified with HDI. Beyond the HDI, exploring other measures of progress:

37. 37 HDI clearly incomplete measure Covers basic aspects of human existence and choices: Health (life expectancy) Education Basic incomes . Covers a basic core of material aspects of HD. Does not cover many other important aspects of the �good life�: e.g. Political freedoms; social aspects of human life; enjoyment of non-basic goods.

38. 38 Choosing dimensions of the good life Big philosophical question since Aristotle at least. Alkire has list of 39 attempts. Many approaches used to define good life: e.g. Rawls: �deliberative rationality� in defining primary goods: �with careful consideration of relevant facts..and consequences�. Finnis: practical reasoning �critical reflection about the planning of one�s life (Nussbaum). Doyal and Gough (basic needs):avoidance of serious harm, where harm prevents people realising their plan of life). Nussbaum, follows Rawls, �overlapping consensus� Consultation: Voices of the poor; quality of life consultation by WED research group. N.B. �list� approach famously avoided by Sen: process is �democratic consensus�.

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40. 40 Twelve categories covering most of aspects discussed by philosophers The HDI itself -- health, education and a measure of income (i.e. it broadly covers bodily health, mental development and basic aspects of material wellbeing). Mental wellbeing (i.e. psychological state) Empowerment (particularly of the deprived). Political freedom Social relations Community wellbeing Inequalities. Work conditions Leisure conditions Political security - i.e. freedom from political violence or instability Economic security - freedom from economic fluctuations. Environmental conditions.

41. 41 Is HDI an adequate measure of broad HD ? No according to correlation analysis of indicators across countries. Taking a set of indicators to represent different dimensions across countries, found 39 indicators adopted to represent 12 dimensions; of these just 8 were highly correlated with HDI. Therefore a full assessment of HD progress goes well beyond HDI. Note: precise results depend on chosen categories, and indicators and methodology

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43. 43 Country behaviour Assessment of country behaviour on four aspects of HD � core HD, economic, social and community, and political showed VERY FEW did consistently on all aspects only eight out of 130 countries with data for all four categories were consistently categorized two as consistently high; Costa Rica and Trinidad and Tobago. five consistently medium: Bolivia, Brazil, Nepal, Saudi Arabia and Turkey one consistently low: Sierra Leone, had consistently low performance

44. 44 HD and other contemporary strategies MDGs. Aim to halve many dimensions of poverty by 2015. MDGS �share a common motivation and reflect a vital commitment to promoting human well-being that entails dignity, freedom and equality for all people� (HDR 2003) Many with direct contribution to HD: Reducing child mortality; improving maternal health; combating major diseases Universal primary education; gender equality.: But HD goes beyond MDGs, in time and in concept. HD: includes many dimensions not covered by MDGs; not rigid in objectives; extends to rich as well as poor countries.

45. 45 HD and other contemporary development strategies 2. Human Security - Human security commission of Mrs. Ogata and Amartya Sen. - Human Security Report (Human Security Centre University of British Columbia) Many interpretations of Human security: focuses on freedom from risks (political/economic/health). Sen: �downside of Human development�

46. 46 HD and other contemporary development strategies Economic growth and a pro-market philosophy both growth and the market are instruments for advancing HD, but neither necessary nor sufficient. Need also to be concerned with: distributional consequences of growth and the market. with availability of social goods. with non-material aspects of providing for human flourishing. Note: the market may not deliver growth; and growth may not deliver HD. But an HD approach is not anti-market. HD provides a powerful way of assessing the success or failure of the market.

47. 47 HD and other contemporary development strategies 4. �Happiness�, increasingly argued should substitute for income as measure of progress (Levine and Easterly; Layard) Various indicators of HD NOT well correlated with measures of happiness across countries. Basic philosophy: HD like capabilities is about expansion of human freedoms, not about mental state.

48. 48 HD: an unfinished agenda. Major priorities Explore ways in which people can consider, and agree on defining and prioritising alternative dimensions. Integrate with environmental framework. Analyse underlying political conditions and strategies for promoting HD. Push forward with revising measures of progress at macro-level in rich and poor countries. Evaluate progress at micro-level with HD perspective.

49. 49 Some conclusions HD represents an important alternative paradigm to the economic/market paradigm generally adopted by World Bank. Interpretation of HD is very wide: it relates to all features of society that promote human flourishing, or prevent it. New aspects still being developed 15 years after report started. Human development goes well beyond the HDI.