AGENDA What is human development? What are the possible benefits of a new approach? What are our findings? What will it take to boost HD scores?

About the Project A nonpartisan, non-profit initiative established to introduce to the United States a well-honed international approach and tool for measuring human well-being: the human development approach and the human development index. Mission: to stimulate fact-based public debate about and political attention to human development issues in the United States and to empower people with an instrument to hold elected officials accountable for improving Americans’ human development. Funders: the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation, Oxfam America, The Rockefeller Foundation, the Social Science Research Council, and the Annenberg Foundation. Publisher: Columbia University Press THE MEASURE OF AMERICA | AMERICAN HUMAN DEVELOPMENT REPORT 2008–2009 3

What is Human Development?

THE MEASURE OF AMERICA | AMERICAN HUMAN DEVELOPMENT REPORT 2008– The human development approach was developed at the United Nations in the late 1980’s, based in part on the work of Harvard economist and Nobel Laureate Amartya Sen. Human development is defined as a process of enlarging people’s freedoms and opportunities and improving their well-being. This approach is a response to the failure of purely economic metrics to capture how people are faring.

Human Development Concept THE MEASURE OF AMERICA | AMERICAN HUMAN DEVELOPMENT REPORT 2008–2009 6

Measuring Human Development THE MEASURE OF AMERICA | AMERICAN HUMAN DEVELOPMENT REPORT 2008–2009 7

Top-Ranked Countries in Human Development 1980–2005 THE MEASURE OF AMERICA | AMERICAN HUMAN DEVELOPMENT REPORT 2008–2009 8

Possible Benefits of a New Approach

Benefits of a New Approach This well-honed international tool reveals new insights when applied to the United States. Many are alienated by today’s bitterly polarized debates. This approach could promote a more informed, reasoned debate using objective facts and comparisons. Economic indicators only tell part of the story. Empowers people with an instrument to hold elected officials accountable. Connects research to action on well-being. THE MEASURE OF AMERICA | AMERICAN HUMAN DEVELOPMENT REPORT 2008–

What the HD Index Reveals

Historical Trends in Human Development THE MEASURE OF AMERICA | AMERICAN HUMAN DEVELOPMENT REPORT 2008– YEAR AMERICAN HD INDEX LIFE EXPECTANCY AT BIRTH (YEARS) AT LEAST HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA (%) AT LEAST BACHELOR’S DEGREE (%) GRADUATE OR PROFESSIONAL DEGREE (%) SCHOOL ENROLLMENT (%) MEDIAN EARNINGS (2005 DOLLARS) , , , , , ,732 Progress stalled Rate doubles Lifespan increase d by eight years Steady progress

American Human Development Index THE MEASURE OF AMERICA | AMERICAN HUMAN DEVELOPMENT REPORT 2008– TOP: CT STATE MAP BOTTOM: MS The U.S. Human Development Index is 5.06

American Human Development Index THE MEASURE OF AMERICA | AMERICAN HUMAN DEVELOPMENT REPORT 2008– CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT MAP The U.S. Human Development Index is 5.06 TOP: CD 14 NY BOTTOM: CD 20 CA

15 HD Index

Health Index Life Expectancy at Birth THE MEASURE OF AMERICA | AMERICAN HUMAN DEVELOPMENT REPORT 2008– STATE MAP The U.S. Life Expectancy is 78 TOP: HI 81.7 BOTTOM: DC 73.8

Health Index Life Expectancy at Birth THE MEASURE OF AMERICA | AMERICAN HUMAN DEVELOPMENT REPORT 2008– CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT MAP TOP: CD 8, VA 82.9 BOTTOM: CD 5, KY 72.6 The U.S. Life Expectancy is 78

Life Expectancy by Race/Ethnicity THE MEASURE OF AMERICA | AMERICAN HUMAN DEVELOPMENT REPORT 2008–2009

Global Health Comparisons, Healthcare Spending THE MEASURE OF AMERICA | AMERICAN HUMAN DEVELOPMENT REPORT 2008–2009

Global Health Comparisons: Life Expectancy THE MEASURE OF AMERICA | AMERICAN HUMAN DEVELOPMENT REPORT 2008–2009

Infant Mortality: If the U.S. had the rate of the top-ranked country (Sweden), over 21,000 American babies would have lived to celebrate their first birthday.

Health We have the medical knowledge to transform asthma from a fatal disease to a manageable chronic illness. But compounded layers of advantage/disadvantage result in very different life chances:

Education Index Educational Attainment and School Enrollment THE MEASURE OF AMERICA | AMERICAN HUMAN DEVELOPMENT REPORT 2008– STATE MAP BOTTOM: MS TOP: DC The U.S. Education Index is 5.04

Education Index Educational Attainment and School Enrollment THE MEASURE OF AMERICA | AMERICAN HUMAN DEVELOPMENT REPORT 2008– CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT MAP BOTTOM: CD 29, TX TOP: CD 30, CA The U.S. Education Index is 5.04

THE MEASURE OF AMERICA | AMERICAN HUMAN DEVELOPMENT REPORT 2008–

THE MEASURE OF AMERICA | AMERICAN HUMAN DEVELOPMENT REPORT 2008– Upper Secondary Graduation Rate, 2004 GLOBAL COMPARISON

Teenage Pregnancy

Income Index Median Earnings for the Population 16 and Older THE MEASURE OF AMERICA | AMERICAN HUMAN DEVELOPMENT REPORT 2008– STATE MAP The U.S. Median Earnings are $27,299 BOTTOM: MT $22K TOP: DC $37K

Income Index Median Earnings for the Population 16 and Older THE MEASURE OF AMERICA | AMERICAN HUMAN DEVELOPMENT REPORT 2008– CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT MAP The U.S. Median Earnings are $27,299 BOTTOM: CD20, CA $17K TOP: CD 14, NY $51K

THE MEASURE OF AMERICA | AMERICAN HUMAN DEVELOPMENT REPORT 2008–

Share of Household Income by Quintile, 2006 THE MEASURE OF AMERICA | AMERICAN HUMAN DEVELOPMENT REPORT 2008–

Median Net Worth, by Race THE MEASURE OF AMERICA | AMERICAN HUMAN DEVELOPMENT REPORT 2008–

Child Poverty: % of children in poor households

How can we build American’s assets? United Kingdom’s Baby Bond Act Launched in 2005 Savings account for every British child At birth and again at age seven– automatic £250 Low-income children get double Families can add more money tax-free

Employment & Income: Family-friendly policies More than three out of four mothers of school-aged children are in the workforce. Women pay a “caring penalty” in jobs: lower paychecks, smaller retirement accounts, job loss. In the U.S. there is no federally required: paid maternity leave (171 countries) right to breastfeed (107 countries) annual paid vacation (137 countries) paid sick leave (145 countries)

What will it take to boost HD scores?

Who’s poor in America? Poverty among elderly and kids has declined dramatically

8-Point Human Development Agenda THE MEASURE OF AMERICA | AMERICAN HUMAN DEVELOPMENT REPORT 2008– Promote prevention. 2.Make health care affordable for all Americans. 3.Modernize K–12 education. 4.Invest in at-risk kids, the earlier the better. 5.Strengthen and support families. 6.Boost incomes and aid asset-building. 7.Launch a Marshall Plan for the Gulf. 8.Take responsibility for the most vulnerable.

Website: measureofamerica.org THE MEASURE OF AMERICA | AMERICAN HUMAN DEVELOPMENT REPORT 2008– Check out the Interactive Maps!

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