The Measure of America: American Human Development Report, 2008-2009

by Sarah Burd-Sharps, Kristen Lewis, Eduardo Martins, Amartya Sen (Foreword by), William Draper III (Foreword by)

Overview

The Measure of America is the first-ever human development report for a wealthy, developed nation. It introduces the American Human Development Index, which provides a single measure of well-being for all Americans, disaggregated by state and congressional district, as well as by gender, race, and ethnicity. The Index rankings of the 50 states and 436 congressional districts reveal huge disparities in the health, education, and living standards of different groups. Clear, precise, objective, and authoritative, this report will become the basis for all serious discussions concerning the realization of a fair, just, and globally competitive American society.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780231510905
Publisher:	Columbia University Press
Publication date:	07/22/2008
Series:	A Columbia / SSRC Book
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	256
File size:	8 MB

About the Author

Sarah Burd-Sharps served as the deputy director of UNDP's Human Development Report Office until September 2006.

Kristen Lewis was a lead author of the water and sanitation report of the U.N. Millennium Project, led by Jeffrey Sachs, and writes extensively on development, gender, and the environment.

Eduardo Borges Martins was the chief statistician in the creation of the Human Development Index for Brazil's municipalities.

The American Human Development Project is an independent, non-profit initiative of Oxfam America, the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation, The Rockefeller Foundation, and the Social Science Research Council, with additional support from the Annenberg Foundation.

Table of Contents

Boxes, Figures, Maps, and Tables     ix
Foreword   Amartya Sen     xi
Foreword   William H. Draper III     xiii
Acknowledgments     xv
Executive Summary     2
Understanding Human Development     8
Introduction     10
Shared Aspirations and Values: The American Dream     16
Capabilities in the United States     18
Human Poverty     19
Human Security     20
Measuring Human Development     22
What the American Human Development Index Reveals     26
Introduction     28
Historical Trends: Forty-five Years of Human Development Progress     29
Presenting the American Human Development Index     30
The Building Blocks of the HD Index     44
A Long and Healthy Life     46
Introduction     48
What Does the HD Index Show?     50
The Many Determinants of Good Health     55
Leading Causes of Death     56
Essential Conditions for Good Health     64
Health Insurance: The Policy That Unlocks Many Doors     72
Conclusion     78
Access to Knowledge     80
Introduction     82
What Does the HD Index Show?     88
How We Fare Internationally     91
The Knowledge Journey     92
Conclusion     118
A Decent Standard of Living     120
Introduction     122
What Does the HD Index Show?     125
Trends in U.S. Income and Wealth     132
Factors That Fuel Growth in Earnings Inequality     138
Conclusion     148
8-Point Human Development Agenda     150
Introduction     152
For a Long and Healthy Life     153
For Access to Knowledge     154
For a Decent Standard of Living     156
To Raise the American Index for States and People Left Behind     158
Human Development Indicators     160
American Human Development Index Indicator Tables     162
U.S. Indicator Tables     173
OECD Indicator Tables     193
References     202
Methodological Notes     204
Notes     214
Glossary     219
Bibliography     221
Index to Indicators     234
Maps At-A-Glance     236

What People are Saying About This

William H. Draper

A rich analysis that will help us forge ahead in creating more economic dynamism, more effective social policies, and an expansion of everyone's freedom and opportunities.

— William H. Draper, III, former administrator of the United Nations Development Programme

Amartya Sen

We get in this report not only an evaluation of what the limitations of human development are in the United States, but also how the relative place of America has been slipping in comparison with other countries over recent years. In the skilled hands of Sarah Burd-Sharps, Kristen Lewis, and Eduardo Borges Martins, the contrasts within the country—related to region, race, class, and other important distinctions—receive powerful investigation and exposure. In these growing gaps we can also see one of the most important aspects of the souring of the American Dream, which is so much under discussion today. I do not doubt that The Measure of America will receive the huge attention that it richly deserves.

Pamela B. Walters

This report shows that the quality of life issues we typically associate with the grossly inadequate social welfare programs of under-resourced countries are problems experienced by a shockingly large portion of the American population-perhaps a growing proportion.

— Pamela B. Walters, Rudy Professor of Sociology at Indiana University, Bloomington

Editorial Reviews

A welcome book... strongly recommended.

The New England Journal of Medicine - Christopher Simms

For the Secretaries of Labor, Education, Health, Housing, Transportation, and White House staffers on domestic policy, a highly useful gift would be: The Measure of America

The Huffington Post - Derek Shearer

The Measure of America is a wonderful tool and informative guide for readers in search of a deeper understanding of the complex nature of American society.

Metro Spirit

One of The Globalist's Ten Favorite Books of 2008.

The Globalist

This very timely report articulates clearly the state of the country, using a multifaceted perspective; it is written in a straightforward, engaging manner... Essential.

Choice

A welcome book... strongly recommended.

— Christopher Simms

The New England Journal of Medicine

For the Secretaries of Labor, Education, Health, Housing, Transportation, and White House staffers on domestic policy, a highly useful gift would be: The Measure of America

— Derek Shearer

The Huffington Post