Question

Which of the following is NOT one of the three indices used to calculate PQLI?

• A. Life expectancy at age 1
• B. Infant mortality
• C. Adult literacy
• D. Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per capita

Answer 1

Answer:

D. Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per capita

Understanding the Physical Quality of Life Index (PQLI)

• The Physical Quality of Life Index (PQLI) is a composite indicator developed to measure the quality of life or well-being in a country or region.
• It was introduced by Morris D. Morris in the mid-1970s for the Overseas Development Council.
• PQLI focuses on measuring social and welfare aspects of development, rather than purely economic growth.
• The index ranges from 0 to 100, where 0 represents the worst performance and 100 represents the best.

Components of PQLI

• The PQLI is calculated using three specific indices, each given equal weight:
  • Infant Mortality Rate (IMR): This measures the number of deaths of infants under one year old per 1,000 live births. A lower IMR indicates better healthcare, nutrition, and overall living conditions.
  • Life Expectancy at Age One: This measures the number of years a person is expected to live after reaching one year of age. It reflects the overall health and longevity of a population, excluding the high mortality risk of the first year of life.
  • Adult Literacy Rate: This measures the percentage of the adult population (usually aged 15 and above) who can read and write. It signifies the educational attainment and human capital development within a society.

Why GDP per capita is NOT a PQLI Component

• Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per capita is a measure of a country's economic output per person. It primarily reflects economic prosperity and income levels.
• PQLI was specifically developed as an alternative or complementary measure to GDP, aiming to assess development beyond mere economic indicators.
• The core idea behind PQLI is that economic growth (as measured by GDP) does not always translate directly into improvements in the quality of life for the general population.
• Therefore, including GDP per capita would contradict the very purpose of PQLI, which is to focus on social and welfare outcomes.

PQLI vs. Human Development Index (HDI)

• PQLI was one of the earliest attempts to create a non-income-based measure of development.
• Later, the Human Development Index (HDI), developed by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), expanded on this concept.
• HDI includes three dimensions: a long and healthy life (measured by life expectancy at birth), knowledge (measured by mean and expected years of schooling), and a decent standard of living (measured by Gross National Income (GNI) per capita, PPP$).
• While both PQLI and HDI aim to capture human development, HDI incorporates an economic dimension (GNI per capita) that PQLI deliberately omits.

Relevance to Kerala Model Development

• The Kerala Model of Development is often cited as a prime example of achieving high levels of social development (like PQLI or HDI) despite relatively lower per capita income compared to other Indian states or developing countries.
• Kerala's success in indicators like infant mortality, literacy, and life expectancy demonstrates that investment in human capital and social welfare can lead to a high quality of life, independent of rapid economic growth. This aligns perfectly with the philosophy behind PQLI.