Why Measure “Human Development”?
Back in Nygaard Notes #248 I quoted a Latin American general talking about his military-ruled “economic success story.” He commented that “The economy is doing great, but the people in it aren’t.” Back then, in the midst of the last campaign for U.S. president, I brought that sentiment home with the hopeful claim that “more and more people are beginning to notice that President’ Bush always talks of his tax-cut and budget plans as being intended to spur economic growth,’ which is quite different than economic well-being.'” Well, here it is, four years later, and I could write essentially the same words again. While the media is filled with stories about McCain or Obama and “economic growth,” it’s far more difficult to find stories that mention either candidate and the phrase “economic well-being” (15 times more difficult in the case of McCain; 30 times more difficult for Obama.) On July 16th the candidates were handed a golden opportunity in the middle of the campaign to discuss the ec
