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Measuring Social Development in Caribbean Societies –
Some Emergent Challenges and Lessons
AuthorGodfrey St. Bernard
Sir Arthur Lewis Institute of Social and Economic StudiesThe University of the West Indies
St. AugustineTrinidad and Tobago
Email Contact: gstbiser@gmail.com
Paper presented at:International Conference on Small States and Economic
ResilienceFoundation for International Studies
Old University BuildingSt. Paul StreetValletta VLT 07
MALTA
23-25 April 2007
Introductory Statements
Social Development as a universal imperative as reinforced by the MDGs
There is a need to promote “wellness” within Caribbean social systems and by extension, societies
This requires careful observation and social measurement
The paper recognizes the need to adopt a paradigmatic framework and therefore embraces a structural functionalist approach rooted in Action Theory
The Content of the Paper
Provides a historical account of the production of social indicators with particular reference to the Caribbean
The experience of Trinidad and TobagoCentral Statistical OfficeConsumer Affairs Division
The contribution of key stakeholdersAcademia – the University of the West IndiesThe Caribbean Development BankThe United Nations Children’s Fund
Classifying Indicators
According to Carley (1981), social indicators can be classified as follows:
Informative Indicators – descriptive
Predictive Indicators – empirical, association and logic of causation
Problem-oriented Indicators – identifying systems and populations that warrant amelioration
Programme evaluation Indicators – facilitate impact assessment
Target delineation Indicators – determine “at risk” and “at need” populations and systems
The Central Statistical Office
Table 1.
Subject-Matter Domains by Year of Publication of Social Indicators Report
1975 1987 1996
PopulationHealth and NutritionEducation
Employment, Earnings, Prices and Household Expenditure Patterns
Housing and Levels of LivingPublic OrderLeisure
PopulationEducation and TrainingLabour force and IncomeFertility and Family FormationMortality and HealthHousingPublic Order and Public Safety
Consumption Expenditure and Income Distribution
ProductivityTransportationThe Environment
Public Participation and social Security
PopulationEducation and TrainingLabour force and IncomeFertility and Family FormationMortality and HealthHousingPublic Order and Public Safety
Consumption Expenditure and Income Distribution
ProductivityTransportationThe Environment
Public Assistance and Social Welfare
Consumer Affairs Division
Delivery was based upon the UN Publication entitled “Measuring Change in Consumption and Production Patterns – A Set of Indicators
Review current status of data collection and storage
Review National Policy Documents
Listing Action Areas
Consumer Affairs DivisionHealthEducationLiving ConditionsEconomic ActivityHuman SettlementEnvironmentRecreation and LeisureKey Resources – Electricity, Water, Petroleum and Natural GasFood SecurityInternational Trade Indicators
Consumption IndicatorsIndividuals and communities meeting their basic needsWhether done in socially and environmentally friendly manner
Production IndicatorProduction processes and output environmentally friendly, sustainableDisposal practices of households and companiesMeeting population needs in socially and environmentally friendly manner
Living Conditions
Caribbean Development Bank Interventions
St. Lucia (2 SLCs)St. Vincent and the Grenadines GrenadaBelizeSt. Kitts and Nevis (2 SLCs)DominicaTurks and Caicos IslandsBritish Virgin IslandsAnguillaAntigua and BarbudaCayman Islands
Independent Initiatives
Jamaica (annually since 1988)Trinidad and Tobago (3 SLCs)BarbadosThe Bahamas
Living Conditions
Unit of Analysis/Target Population
IndividualsHouseholdsVulnerable Sub-Populations
Coverage, Estimates and Output
Household Consumption ExpenditureQuintile GroupsPoverty Line – Poor/Non-PoorPoverty GapFGT-2 MeasureGini Co-efficientsSocial Outcomes – Education, Housing, Health and Nutrition, Labour Force Characteristics, Water, Sanitation and the Environment
Children’s Status
Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys (MICS)
GuyanaSurinameTrinidad and Tobago
Monitor and Evaluate Interventions geared towards enhancing the status of children
Satisfying the requirements of specific MDGs focusing on children
Children’s Status
Unit of Analysis/Target Population
Care giversWomenMothersChildrenHouseholds
Coverage, Estimates and Output
Child HealthChild MortalityChild DevelopmentChild DisciplineChild CareChild RightsChild LabourLiteracyEducationMaternal HealthWater and SanitationEnvironment
Human Development Index
Human Capability and perhaps as an indication of overall social development in specific social systems
Based on an Education Index, a Health Index and a Wealth Index
Refined insofar as it has been adjusted to take into account variations in gender inequalities across countries
Thus, has resulted in the articulation of other indices such as the GDI and the GEM
Youth Development Index (YDI)
A feature proposed under the auspices of the Commonwealth Secretariat
Original intention was to propose a measure that was analogous to the GDI
More specifically, it could be used as a tool for gauging youth empowerment and hence the plan of action of youth empowerment
Commonwealth PAYE
PAYE recognizes the significance of enabling conditions that assume the following forms:
the promotion of economic and material bases that are consistent with youth empowerment
the establishment of mechanisms that will enhance political will, facilitate the allocation of resources and foster the adoption of critical legal and administrative frameworks,
the development of attitudes and practices that are consistent with equality, democracy and peace and,
the dissemination of knowledge, information, skills and values.
Ten Action Points - PAYE1. To develop and implement measures to promote the economic enfranchisement of young
people and their participation in the economy
1. To strengthen support systems and collaboration between key stakeholders in youth empowerment
1. To develop and strengthen youth ministries/departments, national youth policies and legislative and constitutional provisions impacting upon youth affairs
1. To promote positive national models and self images for young people and foster their sense of responsibility and self esteem
1. To promote the full participation of young people in decision making at all levels, including communities and local provincial and national governments
1. To take affirmative and direct action to establish gender equity for all young people, and equality of treatment and outcome for youth in special circumstances
1. To promote a democratic, stable and peaceful environment in which the human rights of young people as defined in international covenants are fully implemented and in which they can fully accept their responsibilities
1. To engage in action for the development and maintenance of human resources and intellectual capital
1. To adopt measures to improve access to information and communications technology (ICT) and provide young people with the skills to make use of it
1. To pursue measures to broaden youth participation in sporting and cultural activities as a means of promoting positive values and advancing human development
Further Thoughts on the YDI
Having adjusted HDI based on gender inequalities, there should be further adjustment to treat with variable prospects and attainment with regard to youth empowerment across countries
Perhaps a YDI, renamed a Youth Related Development Index should be pursued analogous to the GDI.
Alternatively, a YGDI – a Youth and Gender Related Development Index could be proposed adjusting for variations in gender inequality and youth empowerment processes across countries
Social Vulnerability Index
Spearheaded primarily by the United Nations ECLAC
Social vulnerability status as characterizing social outcomes due to the interplay between strengths, weaknesses and opportunities on one hand, and threats on the other
Based upon a functionalist framework where reference is upon social systems, social institutions and their respective sub-systems
Institutional Sub-Systems and Indicators
The System of Education:- The proportion of the population 20 years and over with exposure to tertiary level education - E1.- The proportion of the population 20 years and over that has successfully completed secondary education
(i.e. highest level of educational attainment being a minimum of 5 GCE ‘O’ Level or CXC Basic Subjects or equivalent secondary school leaving qualifications) - E2.
- Adult literacy rate - population aged 15 years and over - E3.The System of Health: - Life expectancy at birth - H1.The System Promoting Security, Social Order and “Good” Governance:- Index of rule of law – S1.- Measure of minority groups' participation in the economy – S2.- Measure of new governments' respect for previous governments' commitments – S3.The System of Resources Allocation:- Proportion of all children (under 15 years) belonging to the two poorest quintiles - R1.- Proportion of working age population (15-64) belonging to the two poorest quintiles with no more than
primary school education - R2.- Proportion of the population (15 years and over) belonging to the two poorest quintiles with no medical
insurance coverage - R3.- Proportion of the population belonging to the two poorest quintiles and living in households where the
head was not employed - R4.The System of Communications Technology:- Computer literacy rate – population aged 15 years and over - C1.
Key Parameters for Data Collection
Data Collection Activities
Institutional Sub-System
Indicators Data Collection Process
Observation Unit
Level of Analysis
Survey of Living Condition
EducationResources Allocation
E1, E2R1, R2,
R3, R4
Sample Survey
Individuals
IndividualHouseholdNation
National Survey of Basic and Computer Literacy
EducationCommunicat
ions Technology
E3C1
Sample Survey
Individuals
IndividualHouseholdNation
National Survey of Governance Processes
Security, Social Order and Governance
S1, S2, S3 Expert Polls
Experts Nation
Official Vital Statistics - Mortality
Health H1 Existing Data
Civil Registration Department
Nation
Emergent Questions and Concerns
Is there a basis for developing a composite index bearing in mind environmental, economic and social vulnerability measures?
Is there a basis for developing a composite index of environmental, economic and sociaql resilience?
Having adjusted the HDI to take into account gender inequalities in order to arrive at the GDI. A further recommendation in this paper has been the need to also take into account adjustment of the HDI to take into account variations in youth empowerment to arrive a YDI
Emergent Questions and Concerns
Should consideration be now given to obtaining holistic measures of vulnerability and resilience to permit further adjustments as means of further refining the HDI?
Further Challenges
There is need for additional sample surveys targeting adult literacy, the computation of disability-free life years lived, access to ICT, and governance indicators
There are also concerns about the reliability and validity of emergent estimates and indicators due to the quality of survey administration, the capabilities of technical skills involved in the conduct of survey research and the pursuit of survey data analysis
There is need to consider harmonization prospects for concepts and definitions given different data collection standards and protocols across the Caribbean Region, especially with respect to the pursuit of comparative analyses
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