Composite indices of development

Santos, Maria Emma and Santos, Georgina ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8446-8297 2014. Composite indices of development. Currie-Alder, Bruce, Kanbur, Ravi, Malone, David M. and Medhora, Rohinton, eds. International Development: Ideas, Experience, and Prospects, Oxford: Oxford University Press, pp. 133-150. (10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199671656.001.0001)

Preview

PDF - Accepted Post-Print Version Download (679kB) | Preview

Abstract

This chapter reviews the literature on composite (and multidimensional) indices of development. Composite indices emerged as an alternative to using a portfolio of indicators, whose scattered information is sometimes difficult to grasp, or simply the GNP per capita, which often does not correlate well with development goals. As they emerged, they were also criticized. Points of debate relate to the selection of dimensions and indicators, their correlation (and the trade-off between redundancy and robustness), their type (input versus output and stock versus flow), and the normalization procedure, weighting, and aggregation of the components. However, as long as the purpose of the index and its indicators and weights are clearly specified and justified, the direction in which the index will move under specific transformations is axiomatically stated, robustness tests are performed, and the index is open to public scrutiny and revision, composite (and multidimensional) indices can prove invaluable in development studies.

Item Type:	Book Section
Date Type:	Publication
Status:	Published
Schools:	Geography and Planning (GEOPL)
Subjects:	H Social Sciences > HT Communities. Classes. Races
Publisher:	Oxford University Press
ISBN:	9780199671656
Related URLs:	Publisher
Date of First Compliant Deposit:	30 March 2016
Last Modified:	25 Oct 2022 08:34
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/53448

Citation Data

Actions (repository staff only)

Edit Item