How does the Human Development Index (HDI) account for corruption?

The Human Development Index (HDI) does not directly account for corruption. The HDI is a composite index that measures the average achievements in three basic dimensions of human development: a long and healthy life, knowledge, and a decent standard of living. It uses indicators such as life expectancy at birth, mean years of schooling, expected years of schooling, and gross national income per capita to calculate the index.

While corruption can have a significant impact on human development, it is not explicitly included in the HDI calculation. However, corruption can indirectly affect the components of the HDI. For example, if corruption leads to misallocation of resources or embezzlement of public funds, it can hinder investments in healthcare, education, and infrastructure, thereby negatively impacting life expectancy, education levels, and income levels.

To address the issue of corruption, other indices and indicators are used alongside the HDI. For instance, the Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) developed by Transparency International measures the perceived levels of public sector corruption in different countries. The CPI provides a separate assessment of corruption and can be used in conjunction with the HDI to gain a more comprehensive understanding of a country's development.

In summary, while the HDI does not directly account for corruption, it indirectly reflects its impact on human development through its components. To obtain a more complete picture of a country's development, it is important to consider additional indices and indicators that specifically measure corruption.