Innovations in measuring inequality and poverty
The 2010 report advances the measurement agenda for human development. Building on many years of research and critiques, it introduces new measures for multidimensional inequality—overall and by gender—and for poverty. It underlines the fundamental robustness of the HDI while introducing carefully conceived refinements. With the surge of interest in alternative measures of well-being, the HDI is assuming even greater prominence. It will remain a pillar of the HDR. Despite
improvements in data availability and quality since 1990, huge gaps and shortcomings remain. Still lacking are good summary measures of critical aspects of well-being—most notably, empowerment. And more conceptual and empirical work is needed to bring the environmental sustainability and human development measurement agendas together.
[Chapter 5, Human Development Report 2010]
Reading Development 