2. Possible Benefits of a New Approach
• This well-honed international tool reveals new
insights when applied to the United States.
• Could promote a more informed, reasoned debate
using objective facts and comparisons.
• Economic indicators only tell part of the story.
• Empowers people with an instrument to hold elected
officials accountable.
• Connects research to action on well-being.
THE MEASURE OF AMERICA | AMERICAN HUMAN DEVELOPMENT REPORT 2008–2009 2

3. What is
Human Development?

4. The human development approach was developed at the
United Nations in the late 1980’s, based in part on the work
of Harvard economist and Nobel Laureate Amartya Sen.
Human development is defined as a process of enlarging
people’s freedoms and opportunities and improving their
well-being.
This approach is a response to the failure of purely
economic metrics to capture how people are faring.
THE MEASURE OF AMERICA | AMERICAN HUMAN DEVELOPMENT REPORT 2008–2009 4

5. Human Development Concept
THE MEASURE OF AMERICA | AMERICAN HUMAN DEVELOPMENT REPORT 2008–2009 5

6. Measuring Human Development
THE MEASURE OF AMERICA | AMERICAN HUMAN DEVELOPMENT REPORT 2008–2009 6

7. Top-Ranked Countries in Human Development
1980–2005
THE MEASURE OF AMERICA | AMERICAN HUMAN DEVELOPMENT REPORT 2008–2009 7

8. What the
HD Index Reveals

9. Historical Trends in Human Development
Lifespan
increase
Steady Rate Progress
d by
progress doubles stalled
eight
years
LIFE EXPECTANCY AT LEAST AT LEAST GRADUATE OR SCHOOL MEDIAN
AMERICAN HD AT BIRTH HIGH SCHOOL BACHELOR’S PROFESSIONAL ENROLLMENT EARNINGS
YEAR INDEX (YEARS) DIPLOMA (%) DEGREE (%) DEGREE (%) (%) (2005 DOLLARS)
2005 5.05 77.9 84.2 27.2 10.0 86.8 27,299
2000 4.67 77.0 80.4 24.4 8.9 82.8 27,382
1990 3.82 75.4 75.2 20.3 7.2 80.8 23,164
1980 2.86 73.7 66.5 16.2 5.6 71.9 21,432
1970 2.10 70.8 52.3 10.7 3.6 73.3 20,613
1960 1.23 69.7 41.1 7.7 2.5 76.9 15,732
THE MEASURE OF AMERICA | AMERICAN HUMAN DEVELOPMENT REPORT 2008–2009 9

10. STATE MAP
American Human Development Index
The U.S. Human
Development Index is
5.06
TOP:
CT
BOTTOM:
MS
THE MEASURE OF AMERICA | AMERICAN HUMAN DEVELOPMENT REPORT 2008–2009 10

11. CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT MAP
American Human Development Index
The U.S. Human
Development Index is
5.06
TOP:
CD 14
NY
BOTTOM:
CD 20
CA
THE MEASURE OF AMERICA | AMERICAN HUMAN DEVELOPMENT REPORT 2008–2009 11

12. BOTTOM
Comparing a resident of Rankin to one in
Panola Coahoma:
• Lifespan:
6 years longer
• High school graduation:
TOP twice as likely to complete
• Earnings:
over $12,000 more

13. STATE MAP
Health Index
Life Expectancy at Birth
The U.S. Life
Expectancy is
78
BOTTOM:
DC
73.8
TOP:
HI
81.7
THE MEASURE OF AMERICA | AMERICAN HUMAN DEVELOPMENT REPORT 2008–2009 13

14. CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT MAP
Health Index
Life Expectancy at Birth
The U.S. Life
Expectancy is
78
TOP:
CD 8,
VA
82.9
BOTTOM:
CD 5,
KY
72.6
THE MEASURE OF AMERICA | AMERICAN HUMAN DEVELOPMENT REPORT 2008–2009 14

15. Life Expectancy by Race/Ethnicity
THE MEASURE OF AMERICA | AMERICAN HUMAN DEVELOPMENT REPORT 2008–2009

16. Infant Death Rate, Mississippi

17. Global Health Comparisons, Healthcare Spending
THE MEASURE OF AMERICA | AMERICAN HUMAN DEVELOPMENT REPORT 2008–2009

18. Global Health Comparisons: Life Expectancy
THE MEASURE OF AMERICA | AMERICAN HUMAN DEVELOPMENT REPORT 2008–2009

19. Health
We have the medical knowledge to transform asthma from a
fatal disease to a manageable chronic illness. But
compounded layers of advantage/disadvantage result in very
different life chances:

20. STATE MAP
Education Index
Educational Attainment and School Enrollment
The U.S. Education
Index is
5.04
TOP:
DC
BOTTOM:
MS
THE MEASURE OF AMERICA | AMERICAN HUMAN DEVELOPMENT REPORT 2008–2009 20

21. CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT MAP
Education Index
Educational Attainment and School Enrollment
The U.S. Education
Index is
5.04
TOP:
CD 30,
CA
BOTTOM:
CD 29,
TX
THE MEASURE OF AMERICA | AMERICAN HUMAN DEVELOPMENT REPORT 2008–2009 21

22. THE MEASURE OF AMERICA | AMERICAN HUMAN DEVELOPMENT REPORT 2008–2009 22

23. GLOBAL COMPARISON
Upper Secondary Graduation Rate, 2004
THE MEASURE OF AMERICA | AMERICAN HUMAN DEVELOPMENT REPORT 2008–2009 23

24. STATE MAP
BOTTOM: Income Index
MT Median Earnings for the Population 16 and Older
$22K
The U.S. Median
Earnings are
$27,299
TOP:
DC
$37K
THE MEASURE OF AMERICA | AMERICAN HUMAN DEVELOPMENT REPORT 2008–2009 24

25. CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT MAP
Income Index
Median Earnings for the Population 16 and Older
The U.S. Median
Earnings are
$27,299
TOP:
CD 14,
NY
$51K
BOTTOM:
CD20,
CA
$17K
THE MEASURE OF AMERICA | AMERICAN HUMAN DEVELOPMENT REPORT 2008–2009 25

26. Median Earnings by Race
Whites with the lowest
income are still
better off than the
vast majority of
African Americans.

27. THE MEASURE OF AMERICA | AMERICAN HUMAN DEVELOPMENT REPORT 2008–2009 27

28. Share of Household Income by Quintile, 2006
THE MEASURE OF AMERICA | AMERICAN HUMAN DEVELOPMENT REPORT 2008–2009 28

29. Median Net Worth, by Race
THE MEASURE OF AMERICA | AMERICAN HUMAN DEVELOPMENT REPORT 2008–2009 29

30. What will it take to boost
HD scores?

31. Who’s poor in America? Poverty among elderly
and kids has declined dramatically

32. 8-Point Human Development Agenda
1. Promote prevention.
2. Make health care affordable for all Americans.
• Modernize K–12 education.
• Invest in at-risk kids, the earlier the better.
• Strengthen and support families.
• Boost incomes and aid asset-building.
• Launch a Marshall Plan for the Gulf.
• Take responsibility for the most vulnerable.
THE MEASURE OF AMERICA | AMERICAN HUMAN DEVELOPMENT REPORT 2008–2009 32

33. Thank You!
www.measureofamerica.org