Human Development Report 1996

An update of the Human Development Indicators comparing human development in most countries of the world and the data tables on all aspects of human development. It describes the historical evolution of the human development paradigm and examines the trends in economic growth and human development from a larger canvas, ultimately showing their impact on people. The focus of this edition is on the link betwen economic growth and huamn development. It maintains that the link is not automatic but can be established through proper policy management, arguing the case for initiating and accelerating economic growth in different parts of the world. The report also maintains that the quality of growth is as important as its quantity; otherwise, growth can be jobless, voiceless, ruthless, rootless and futureless. It identifies employment as an important instrument in translating the benefits of economic growth into peoples lives. According to the report, the world has become more polarized since more than a billion people are enjoying more that a 5% per capita income growth, while there are nearly a billion people suffering from negative growth. The report ranks 174 countries according to the Human Development Index (HDI). It also gives the global ranking of more than 100 countires in terms of Gender-Related Development Index (GDI) and the Gender Empowerment Measure (GEM). New to this edition is the Capability Poverty Measure (CPM) which is used as an alternative to the traditional income poverty measure. The report concludes that the future challenge is how to forge and sustain the desired kind of linkage between economic growth and human development.