Why doesn the HDI include dimensions of participation, gender, and equality?
As a simple summary index, the HDI is designed to reflect average achievements in three basic aspects of human development – leading a long and healthy life, being knowledgeable, and enjoying a decent standard of living. Participation, gender disparity and human deprivation are measured in other indices (see gender-related development index, gender empowerment measure, and the human poverty index) or other indicators of the Report. Measurement issues related to these indices demonstrate the conceptual and methodological challenges that remain to be tackled.
