Analysis - COVID-19 Spread Index (CSI) exposes misleading Human Development Index (HDI)

Emerging COVID-19 Spread Index exposes misleading Human Development Index

By:

Vijay SARDANA

The Human Development Index – or simply, HDI – is an index that is used to rank countries based on human development. Human Development Index is scored using indicators including expectancy, per capita income, and education. Nations that rank higher on this index have a higher level of education, a higher lifespan, and a higher gross national income per capita than nations with a lower score.

• HDI is ranked on a scale from 0 to 1.0, with 1.0 being the highest human development. HDI is broken down into four tiers: very high human development (0.8-1.0), high human development (0.7-0.79), medium human development (0.55-.70), and low human development (below 0.55).

• Most countries that are “developed countries” have an HDI score of 0.8 or above (in the very high human development tier). These countries have stable governments, widespread education and healthcare, high life expectancies, and growing, powerful economies.

• The least developed countries (LDCs) in the world have HDI scores in the low human development tiers with HDI scores below 0.55. LDCs face unstable governments, widespread poverty, lack of access to healthcare, and poor education. Additionally, these countries have low income and low life expectancies coupled with high birth rates. The HDI helps the United Nations determine which countries need assistance, specifically LDCs. The UN has held four conferences to assess LDCs and develop strategies to boost them out of the category.

Why COVID-19 is spreading fast in Developed Economies or high ranking HDI countries?

HDI is based on the following criteria:

• Stable governments, 
• Widespread education
• Healthcare
• High life expediencies
• Growing prosperity
• Powerful economies

On paper these things look great, but with all the right resources and education why these countries are not able to control the COVID-19 spread. It means there is something fundamentally wrong in these criteria or parameters when it comes to public health.

This raise two questions serious questions:

1. Either these parameters or criteria were manipulated or correct assessment was not done.
2. There are other crucial parameters which were deliberately left out so that these countries can continue to project their supremacy why hiding dark secrets of these economies and societies. 

Let us discuss some facts : Is this just a coincidence or there is a logic behind these developments.

Let us compare the Human Development Index-2020 and COVID Development Index-2020 as of today.

COVID-19 Spread Ranking

 Human development Index Ranking

Why COVID-19 is expanding the fastest in well-developed economies and educated societies?

Why high HDI ranking countries are failing in their fundamental duty of protecting their citizens from diseases spread with all the might, capabilities, education and infrastructure.  If education, money, democracy, law and order, the stable government are the main criteria of development and dreams of any society, then why these countries are the worst sufferer in case of COVID-19 outbreak. This needs proper investigation. This means something else is more crucial for the welfare of people and in controlling such a disaster. This should also be studied. 

COVID-19 Spread Rate in Developed Countries is the Highest

Why deaths are the highest in these high ranking countries in HDI?

I can understand that infection was sudden, but why the healthcare system was not able to control the spread and after that deaths. This raises issues of the type of healthcare system was adopted or developed in these countries. The type of leadership and governance models they have developed. These countries with the most expensive healthcare systems reporting the maximum number of deaths. This raises a serious question of the failed policy of healthcare in these countries. Till now, citizens of these countries were forced to pay the very high cost for healthcare and the government and society at large was in the illusion that high-cost healthcare means efficient and quality service. COVID-19 exposed all these misconceptions and their preparedness. It is high time, that these countries must become logical in their approach and do not remain in a fake illusion that manipulated Human Development Index report will offer them any hope of protection when there is will COVID-19 like incidences. 

COVID Spread Rate in Developed Countries is the Highest

In the brief, I can say, once the situation is normalized, investigation must address the issues related to Conflict of Interest at all levels, short term monetary gains at the cost of society, Fake narratives in the name of development and cooked-up parameters of success. Competency was compromised to please the cronies. Critics were ignored to please the bosses. As I always say, facts will remain, you may choose the ignore the facts. As a person who works in bio-economy, I can assure you, COVID-19 will not go from the world now, new forms and mutated forms of infections will continue to emerge. 

In my opinion, the biggest flaw in current Human Development Index only related to economic aspects means if you are rick your ranking in Human Development Index. Other vital social parameters like Mental Health, Food dietary practices and personal hygiene parameters which leads to better health and immunity, Social and Family Ties, Cultural Practices are missing from current Human Development Index. This clearly shows that current Human Development Index is not only manipulated but also misleading to the world. COVID-19 has exposed how defective system has pushed the world in a risky zone. 

I urge, UN bodies and other sensible organisations to review the current approach and make it logical system which can truly reflect development status of the society at large and not what market players want to see. 

Are we ready for it. Please think about the message, not about the messenger.

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