GROUP 2: HUMAN FLOURISHING AS REFLECTED BY PROGRESS
1) What are the indicators of development?
2) What are the Sustainable development goals by the United Nations?
3) How does Jason Hickel's idea of "de-development" help in sustaining our planet?
4) How do we improve our lives and yet reduce consumption?
What is Development?
Development can be defined in various ways, depending on the concept in which it is focusing on, for example:
Development as a vision:
Here, the term is used to describe how desirable a society or a region is, possibly with regard to what it can
become
Development as a historical process:
This refers to social change that occurs over extended periods of time due to inevitable processes. For
instance, it is widely believed that both communism and capitalism are an inevitable outcome of progress.
Development as action:
This refers to deliberate action to change things for the better, as with providing aid to alleviate hunger (Max
2016)
According to Sid Israel, development is “a process that creates growth, progress, positive change or the
addition of physical, economic, environmental, social and demographic components.”
The Purpose of development include:(Sid Israel 2021).
-a rise in the level and quality of life in the population
-the creation or expansion of local regional income and employment opportunities, without damaging the
resources of the environment
According to the United Nations Development Programme, the three essentials of development are:
-the ability to lead a long and healthy life
-to acquire knowledge
-to have a decent standard of life
MAJOR INDICATORS OF DEVELOPMENT
The following are the major indicators to assess the development of a region:
-Economic Indicators
-Social Indicators
-Environmental Indicators
Economic Indicator
Economic Development is defined as the process by which a country's population grows steadily from a basic,
low-income economy to a sophisticated, high-income economy is known as economic development.
Its purview encompasses the procedures and laws that a country uses to raise the standard of living for its
citizens on the social, political, and economic fronts.
Indicators of economic development is applied such as the following:
Gross Domestic Product (GDP)
Gross domestic product is a measure of economic activity in a country. It is calculated by adding the total value
of a country’s annual output of goods and services.
It is how much money a country makes from its products in a year (it is usually converted and presented in US
dollars)
Formula:
GDP = private consumption + investment + public spending + the change in inventories + (exports - imports).
Gross National Product (GNP)
GNP is calculated by adding to GDP the income earned by residents from investments abroad, less the
corresponding income sent home by foreigners who are living in the country
E.g. GNP per capita (per capita meaning an individual person)
GNP divided by the population
Economic Growth
Economic growth measures the annual increase in GDP,GNP, GDP per capita, or GNP per capita. It indicates
whether there are persistent economic problems or if the nation has an opportunity for a steady economic
environment.
Economic Structure
Shows the division of a country’s economy between primary, secondary and tertiary industries. The primary
sector focuses on the extraction of raw materials, the secondary sector on manufacturing, and the tertiary
sector on the service industries which exist to facilitate the transport, distribution and sale of goods produced in
the secondary sector. The tertiary sector is where most developed nations tend to have more share of their
working population engaged in.
Social Indicator
Social Indicators of development give a much broader picture of how developed a country is compared to
purely economic indicators such as GDP which merely focus on economic productivity. Social indicators are
more useful in showing us the extent to which income generated in a country actually benefits ordinary people.
Poverty Rate
The poverty rate is the ratio of the number of people (in a given age group) whose income falls below the
poverty line. The poverty line is usually calculated by estimating the total cost of one year's worth of necessities
for the average adult.
Health Factors
Undernourishment and malnourishment are important markers of a population's health and have a big impact
on measuring how well people are thriving. Undernutrition, or the lack of certain vital nutrients, and
overnutrition, or the consumption of excessive amounts of calories or certain nutrients, are both included in the
category of malnutrition and can result in health problems like obesity and related disorders.
Women Empowerment
Women make important contributions to economic and social development. Expanding opportunities for them
in the public and private sectors is a core development strategy, and education is the starting point. Achieving
gender equality in education is an important demonstration that young women are full, contributing members of
society.
Education
The most important social indicator. It enables people to gain expertise in respective fields in order to
contribute skills and expertise to the economy and some particular branch of national production. Hence the
economy grows because there is no lack of skilled labor and the state develops in a positive direction.
Environmental Indicator
Environmental indicators are simple measures that tell us what is happening in the environment. Since the
environment is very complex, indicators provide a more practical and economical way to track the state of the
environment than if we attempted to record every possible variable in the environment. Examples of which are:
Forest Area
They provide homes for many animals and help soak up harmful greenhouse gasses, like carbon dioxide,
which helps fight climate change. When properly maintained, they also give those who depend on forest
resources a means of subsistence. Factors that contribute to the loss of forests include population growth,
increasing demand for food, and declining growth in agricultural biodiversity
Air Pollution
Air pollution is a big problem that affects everyone's health around the world….
The global health system is severely impacted by air pollution. To supply their fundamental energy demands,
households burn coal, wood, charcoal, dung, and agricultural waste in many urban and rural locations. When
solid fuels are used for cooking and heating, toxic smoke and particulates are released into dwellings,
contaminating the surrounding area. Chronic exposure to ambient air pollution raises the risk of developing
heart disease, lung cancer, and respiratory ailments. Development suffers from its enormous financial
expenses, which are especially felt by low- and middle-income nations as well as by vulnerable populations
like the elderly and children.
Marine Protected Areas
It is an indicator of a certain percentage of a country’s total Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) lying within marine
protected areas (MPAs). MPAs represent a critical tool for protecting marine ecosystems from unsustainable
fishing practices, pollution, and human disturbance. A score of 100 indicates that a country protects at least
10% of its total EEZ area, corresponding to Aichi Target 11 of the Convention on Biological Diversity.
The Philippines is ranked number 58, with an EPI score of 14.60. This means that the country is unable to
protect even 10% of its total EEZ area.
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS
According to the United Nations, “the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, adopted by all United
Nations Member States in 2015, provides a shared blueprint for peace and prosperity for people and the
planet, now and into the future. At its heart are the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which are an
urgent call for action by all countries - developed and developing - in a global partnership. They recognize that
ending poverty and other deprivations must go hand-in-hand with strategies that improve health and education,
reduce inequality, and spur economic growth – all while tackling climate change and working to preserve our
oceans and forests.”
The 17 goals include:
● End poverty in all its forms everywhere.
● End hunger, achieve food security, improve nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture.
● Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages.
● Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all.
● Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls.
● Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all.
● Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all.
● Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and
decent work for all.
● Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation.
● Reduce inequality within and among countries.
● Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable.
● Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns.
● Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts.
● Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development.
● Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests,
combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss.
● Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all
and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels.
● Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the Global Partnership for Sustainable
Development.
JASON HICKEL’S DE-DEVELOPMENT
Jason Hickel is an anthropologist at the London School of Economics.
In his book "The Divide: A Brief Guide to Global Inequality and its Solutions," economist Jason Hickel
introduces the concept of "de-development" as a way to address the unsustainable and inequitable practices
that have been driving global economic growth. According to Hickel, de-development is the idea of deliberately
scaling back economic activity and consumption in order to protect the planet and ensure a more equal
distribution of resources.
In his book, he stated that professionals such as economists insist on growth especially on poorer segments of
the population. He counters this statement by saying “growth isn’t an option any more – we’ve already grown
too much.” Due to the growth of the countries, especially the rich ones, this leads to overconsumption of the
earth’s resources which leads to material imbalance.
“Instead of pushing poor countries to 'catch up' with rich ones, we should be getting rich countries to 'catch
down'
-Hickel, J.
According to Hickel, economist Peter Edward contends that rather than trying to force developing nations to
"catch up" with wealthier ones, we should consider strategies to force rich nations to "catch down" to more
suitable levels of development. Instead of viewing these civilizations as hopeless cases that need to be
transformed into more like Western society, we should see them as models of efficient living where people live
long, happy lives at relatively low levels of income and consumption.
How does Jason Hickel's idea of "de-development" help in sustaining our planet?
By embracing de-development, we can help to sustain our planet in a number of ways. First and foremost,
scaling back economic activity and consumption can help to reduce our overall impact on the environment. By
consuming less and prioritizing sustainable practices, we can reduce our carbon footprint, decrease resource
depletion, and protect biodiversity. This is crucial in the face of climate change and other environmental
challenges that threaten the health and well-being of future generations.
Additionally, de-development can help to address the profound inequalities that exist between the Global North
and the Global South. By shifting resources away from excessive consumption in wealthy countries and
towards development initiatives in the Global South, we can help to lift people out of poverty and improve
overall well-being. This can help to create a more just and equitable world where everyone has access to the
resources they need to thrive.
In conclusion, Jason Hickel's idea of de-development offers a compelling vision for how we can create a more
sustainable and equitable world. By scaling back economic activity, promoting sustainable practices, and
prioritizing social welfare over endless growth, we can help to protect the planet and ensure a more just
distribution of resources. Embracing de-development is essential if we are to address the pressing
environmental and social challenges that we face and create a more sustainable future for all.
WAYS TO IMPROVE OUR LIVES BUT ALSO REDUCING CONSUMPTION
One way is recycling. We can use our creativity to create something new from things we’ve already used. Also,
when buying products, we should buy products that will last for a long time so that we don't have so many
things to dispose of. Especially in this age where appliances and things are easily broken to make people buy
more products, It is better to check which ones will last for months or years.
Ways to improve lives and reduce consumption:
1. Adopting a more minimalist lifestyle: This involves focusing on experiences and relationships rather
than material possessions.
2. Prioritizing local and sustainable goods: Supporting local businesses and choosing sustainable
products reduces environmental impact and carbon footprint.
3. Shifting towards a sharing economy: Utilizing shared resources like carpooling, borrowing, or renting
reduces individual consumption while fulfilling needs.
4. Investing in sustainable technologies: Supporting and adopting technologies like renewable energy
or energy-efficient appliances can significantly reduce consumption in the long run.
But most importantly, improving lives while reducing consumption requires a change in mindset and
behavior. By rethinking our relationship with material goods, embracing sustainable practices, and fostering a
more sharing-based economy, we can pave the way for a future where human flourishing goes hand-in-hand
with a healthy planet.
5. Recycling materials that can be recycled: In recycling, we can use our creativity to create something
new from things we have already used. Also, when buying products, we should buy products that will
last a long time to avoid disposing of products that we have only used once or twice. Especially in this
era where appliances and other products can be easily broken, people will dispose of those damaged
products and buy new ones. It is better to check which ones will last for months or years. (Frenchille)
References:
https://sid-israel.org/en/what-is-development/
https://www.mdgmonitor.org/what-is-development-guide/
https://www.slideshare.net/KamleshKumar265/indicators-of-development-economic-social-and-environmental
https://wedc-knowledge.lboro.ac.uk/resources/e/mn/054-Economic-development-indicators.pdf
https://revisesociology.com/category/global-development/indicators-of-development/#:~:text=The%20main%20
social%20indicators%20of,often%20measured%20by%20life%20expectancy.
https://datatopics.worldbank.org/world-development-indicators/themes/environment.html
https://epi.yale.edu/epi-results/2022/component/mpa
https://sdgs.un.org/goals
https://www.undp.org/sustainable-development-goals
https://www.theguardian.com/global-development-professionals-network/2015/sep/23/developing-poor-countrie
s-de-develop-rich-countries-sdgs
