A Review of Past 32 Years of Human Development Reports: Conceptualization Challenge and Way Forward

Abstract

This paper reviews the Human Development Reports (HDRs) of the past 32
years to evaluate changes in the conceptualization of the Human
Development Index (HDI) in determining human development over time.
Using a genealogical approach, the data is extracted from HDRs that were
published during 1990-2022. We identify that no significant change
occurred in the conceptualization of human development over a period of
more than three decades. It was also identified that the changing needs of
human development were not addressed holistically in the measurement of
human development overtime. The changes that occurred over time were
either event-driven or remained tentative to include more important
attributes of human development. Furthermore, the human development
concept as identified in HDRs and measured through HDI is neither
grounded in theory nor takes into account the interdisciplinary nature of
human development. We discuss how interdisciplinary knowledge could be
used to overcome challenges in the better conceptualization of human
development for preparing a more representative human development index
(HDI).