Measuring Human Development in a High-Income Country: A Conceptual Framework for Well-Being Indicators

Figures & data

Table 1 Examples of Output/Outcome Indicators for Different Well-Being Dimensions and Functionings in a High-Income Country

Well-being dimension	Capability/functioning	Output indicator	Outcome indicator
Health	Being in a good health status	Percentage of population with access to different health services when needed	(1) Healthy life expectancy at birth(2) Disability-adjusted life expectancy at birth(3) Life expectancy at birth(4) Median health conditions (subjective measure)
	Preventing avoidable diseases	Percentage of children immunized against infectious diseases	(1) Morbidity rates for specific diseases (e.g., tuberculosis, malaria, measles, and HIV-Aids)^a
Education	Having basic education	(1) Enrolment rate in primary education(2) Attendance rate in primary education(3) Enrolment rate in lower secondary education(4) Attendance rate in lower secondary education	(1) Completion rate in primary education(2) Completion rate in lower secondary education(3) Average results in PISA standardized test scores(4) Average results in INVALSI test scores
	Having higher knowledge/skills	(1) Enrolment rate in upper secondary education(2) Attendance rate in upper secondary education(3) Enrolment rate in tertiary education	(1) Completion rate in upper secondary education(2) Percentage of population with a university diploma (BA)(3) Percentage of population with a university degree(4) Percentage of population with a Ph.D.
	Being literate	(1) Enrolment rate in primary education(2) Attendance rate in primary education(3) Percentage of adult population that has attended literacy programs	(1) Average results in PISA standardized test scores(2) Average results in INVALSI test scores(3) Percentage of adult population able to read and write
Shelter/safety	Living in a decent shelter	Number of dispossess per 1000 citizens/buildings^a	(1) Percentage of population living in a decent house (pavement, roof, bathroom, access to potable water, electricity, etc.)
Employment	Holding a decent job	(1) Employment rate(2) Unemployment rate^a(3) Not in Education, Employment or Training (% of 15–64 y.o. population)^a	(1) % of 15–64 y.o. population with a permanent job(2) % of 15–64 y.o. population with a precarious job^a(3) % of 15–64 y.o. population with a full-time job(4) % of 15–64 y.o. population with a part-time job(5) % of 15–64 y.o. population with a “protected” contract
Participation	Participating in political/civic life	(1) Percentage of the population registered in an association	(1) Percentage of the population >14 y.o. carrying out free-of-charge activity for associations/unions(2) Percentage of the population >14 y.o. participating in meetings of associations(3) Percentage of the adult population voting(4) Percentage of the population >14 y.o. getting informed about politics
Nutrition^b	Being adequately nourished	Percentage of the population with access to the minimum amount of calories required	(1) Malnutrition rate(2) Obesity rate(3) Average body mass index

a These variables indicate deprivations. To transform them into achievements, the final indicators must be calculated as “1(or 100) —deprivation indicator”.

b For an in-depth analysis of how to analyze food and nutrition security through the capability approach, see Burchi and De Muro (2012).

Burchi, F., & De Muro, P. (2012). A human development and capability approach to food security: Conceptual framework and informational basis. Background paper 2012/08 for the African Human Development Report “Towards a Food Secure Future”, UNDP, Regional Bureau for Africa.

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