Human Development

What is it?

Source: www.georgetown.edu

Human development looks at the success of countries across the globe. We see the results on the Human Development Index. Find out more about the HDI by clicking on the link here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HYHow0VVeSQ. Human development grew out of global discussions on the links between economic growth and development during the second half of the 20th Century. By the early 1960s there were increasingly loud calls to “dethrone” GDP: economic growth had emerged as both a leading objective, and indicator, of national progress in many countries. The human development approach  is about expanding the richness of human life, rather than simply the richness of the economy in which human beings live; it is focused on creating fair opportunities and choices for all people. Keywords are people, opportunity, and choice. The focus of the Human Development approach is improving the lives of people and giving them the opportunities to live the life they want, and one that they value. People make their own choices, and with human development have more choices to lead their lives happily, they are not forced to do so. 

Ireland and Human Development

Ireland has a total population of 4.63 million according to the most recent Human Development Report. There are several indicators listed including: health, education, income, inequality, gender, poverty, employment and vulnerability, human security, trade and financial flows, mobility and communication, environment, and demography. Three important indicators are health, education, and income.

Health

Life expectancy at birth in Ireland is 80.71 years old. The infant mortality rate, meaning the number of deaths per 1000 live births, is 3. What stood out to me is the adult mortality rates (per 1000 men/women). That of women is 51 and the same of men is 85. 

Education

The mean years of schooling in Ireland is 11.61. The expected years of schooling is 18.6. This is a huge gap. The percent of those aged over 25 with at least "some secondary education" is 79.6. 

Income

The Gross national income per capita (2011 PPP $) is 33,414.4. The gross domestic product (billions) is 196.86. 

Compared with the rest of the world