THE SMALL TYPE: A BIREF SUMMARY OF METHODOLOGY

The tables in this booklet show progress (or lack thereof) toward achievement of measurable targets set in 1995 at the World Summit for Social Development in Copenhagen and the Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing. Most of the data used in preparing the tables comes from recognised, authoritative sources. Alternative sources were chosen when data from recognised sources was outdated or available for only a limited number of countries.

Achievement tables

In the advance tables, the first column shows the country’s starting point in 1990 or closest year for which data are available; the second column gives the latest data available from the source chosen; the third shows the rate of progress or regression with respect to the goal set; and the last figure is the target set by governments for the year 2000.

The rate of progress or regression is represented by symbols. Ratings are arrived at through a calculation based on the adoption of a normative, “ideal” rate of progress, which is the rate that would be needed to reach the goal on time. For example, for the goal of achieving 100% enrolment in primary school by the year 2000, two countries had respective starting points in 1990 of 60% and 80% and achieved respective enrolments rates of 70% and 90% in 1995. Both advanced by 10%, but they will not receive the same rating, since the second will achieve the goal if it maintains the same rate of progress, but the first will not.

To calculate progress, a simple and uniform model is applied to all the indicators. The progress index for countries is presented on a scale of 1 to 5: “significant regression”, “some regression”, “stagnation”, “some progress” (but not enough to reach the target goal in 2000), and “significant progress or goal already achieved”. In the example given above, the first country would be assigned the symbol “some progress” and the second would get the “significant progress or goal already achieved” symbol.

Where applicable, we have indicated in the column “Progress or Regression” those countries that had already achieved the goal by 1990; those that, having met the target in 1990, continue to make progress; and those that, having met the target in 1990, are experiencing reversals.

Summary tables

The fold-out coloured tables give the status for indicators in the following nine areas: “Basic education” combines indicators for children who reach 5th grade, the net primary school enrolment ratio, and the adult literacy rate; “Children’s health” averages the mortality rate for infants under 1 year, the mortality rate for children under 5 years, and the percentage of infants under 1 year who have been fully immunised; “Food security and infant nutrition” reflects the per capita caloric supply and the percentage of under-fives suffering from serious and moderate malnutrition; “Reproductive health” averages the percentage of pregnancies and births attended by medical personnel; “Access to health and life expectancy” combines the life expectancy rate with the percentage of population with access to health services; “Drinking water and sanitation” averages the percentages of the population that have access to these services. The last three columns reflect the status for a single indicator in each case: “Reduction of military expenditure” (as a percentage of GDP), “Official Development Aid” (with respect to GNP) and the gender gap. One table reflects the reduction in the gap in literacy rates between women and men (“Gender Gap in Literacy”), and the other shows the gap between girls’ and boys’ primary school enrolment rates (“Female Literacy”). The value of each column is a simple average of the indicators for which information is available.

The table “Steps forward, steps back” reflects the speed of progress, while “The haves and the have-nots” gives a “snapshot” of how far countries have come. The information is complementary. Little progress in a country with a high level of social development is not the same as little progress in a country where there is still a lot to be done.

“Steps forward, steps back” shows advances and regressions with respect to the social development goals set. It classifies countries according to their average rate of progress for each indicator since 1990, regardless of their starting position. Countries are listed in this table from top to bottom in the order of those that have made the greatest progress to those showing the greatest regression. Progress or regression was calculated on the basis of changes from 1990 to the latest year with available data regarding “key” indicators for which goals were defined. Each variable was classified on a scale of significant progress to significant regression, looking at differences from 1990 to latest data considered in linear terms.

“The haves and have-nots” reflects the status of social development based on the most recent data available. In other words, it shows how close or how far countries are on average from achieving their goals, regardless of whether they are progressing toward those goals. To determine ranking for this second table, the newest ratings were categorised into four groups from best to worst. The order in which countries are listed in this table corresponds to a simple average of these ratings.