<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p>Since its implementation in 1990, the human development index (HDI), the flagship indicator of multidimensional development, has attracted a great deal of attention and critics in academic, political and media circles. It initiated a new stage in the discussion of appropriate indicators to measure socioeconomic development. Until now, the vast majority of empirical work using the HDI concept has taken a cross-country perspective. The main aim of this paper is the application of the HDI at the sub-country level in small, highly developed and socioeconomically homogenous countries. For this undertaking we use a slightly modified version of the HDI, called the regional development index (RDI). For the components of the RDI - life expectancy, education and standard of living - we use recent cross section information for Austria at the level of districts. There exists considerable heterogeneity across districts in the RDI and its components. Our Theil-decomposition reveals that the overwhelming part of the observed heterogeneity is based on differences within provinces (96 percent), although the differences in life expectancy between the provinces explain a substantial part of the overall heterogeneity in this indicator (54 percent).</p></abstract>

Since its implementation in 1990, the human development index (HDI), the flagship indicator of multidimensional development, has attracted a great deal of attention and critics in academic, political and media circles. It initiated a new stage in the discussion of appropriate indicators to measure socioeconomic development. Until now, the vast majority of empirical work using the HDI concept has taken a cross-country perspective. The main aim of this paper is the application of the HDI at the sub-country level in small, highly developed and socioeconomically homogenous countries. For this undertaking we use a slightly modified version of the HDI, called the regional development index (RDI). For the components of the RDI - life expectancy, education and standard of living - we use recent cross section information for Austria at the level of districts. There exists considerable heterogeneity across districts in the RDI and its components. Our Theil-decomposition reveals that the overwhelming part of the observed heterogeneity is based on differences within provinces (96 percent), although the differences in life expectancy between the provinces explain a substantial part of the overall heterogeneity in this indicator (54 percent).

Regional Development in Advanced Countries: a Within-Country Application of the Human Development Index for Austria

University of Applied Sciences Kufstein, Andreas Hofer-Straße 7, 6330 Kufstein, Austria

University of Innsbruck, Department of Economics and Statistics, Austria

University of Innsbruck, Department of Economics and Statistics,Austria

DANUBE

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Since its implementation in 1990, the human development index (HDI), the flagship indicator of multidimensional development, has attracted a great deal of...

Regional Development in Advanced Countries: a Within-Country Application of the Human Development Index for Austria

Published Online: Apr 09, 2015

Page range: 1 - 23

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/danb-2015-0001

Keywords
Human Development Index, Regional Development, Decomposition, Austria

© by Lukas Schrott

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Regional Development in Advanced Countries: a Within-Country Application of the Human Development Index for Austria

Published Online: Apr 09, 2015

Page range: 1 - 23

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/danb-2015-0001

KeywordsHuman Development Index, Regional Development, Decomposition, Austria

© by Lukas Schrott

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Keywords
Human Development Index, Regional Development, Decomposition, Austria