What is PQLI? Explain its indicators and computation.

Introduction:

The Physical Quality of Life Index (PQLI) is a composite index of development that was created in the late 1970s by Morris David Morris. Unlike the more complex and multifaceted Human Development Index (HDI) that came later, PQLI aimed to provide a simpler, more easily understood measure of a nation’s well-being, focusing on basic aspects of life. It was designed as an alternative to purely economic indicators like Gross Domestic Product (GDP) to assess a country’s progress and quality of life. While no longer widely used, understanding PQLI provides valuable context for the evolution of development indicators.

Body:

Indicators of PQLI:

PQLI is calculated using three equally weighted indicators:

Life Expectancy at Age One: This reflects the average number of years a person can expect to live after their first birthday. A higher life expectancy indicates better healthcare, sanitation, and overall living conditions. Data for this indicator is typically sourced from national health surveys and demographic records.
Infant Mortality Rate: This represents the number of deaths of infants under one year old per 1,000 live births. A lower infant mortality rate signifies improved maternal health, access to healthcare, and better nutrition for infants. Data is obtained from vital registration systems and population censuses.
Literacy Rate: This measures the percentage of the adult population (usually defined as those aged 15 years and older) who can read and write. A higher literacy rate suggests better access to education and improved human capital development. Data is collected through national literacy surveys and censuses.

Computation of PQLI:

The PQLI is a simple arithmetic mean of the three standardized indicators. Each indicator is first standardized to a scale of 0 to 100, where 100 represents the best possible value. The standardization process typically involves transforming the raw data using a linear transformation:

Standardized Value = [(Actual Value - Minimum Value) / (Maximum Value - Minimum Value)] * 100

Where:

Actual Value is the observed value for the indicator in a specific country.
Minimum Value is the lowest value observed across all countries considered.
Maximum Value is the highest value observed across all countries considered.

Once each indicator is standardized, the PQLI is calculated as:

PQLI = (Standardized Life Expectancy + Standardized Infant Mortality Rate + Standardized Literacy Rate) / 3

The resulting PQLI value ranges from 0 to 100, with higher values indicating a better physical quality of life.

Limitations of PQLI:

While PQLI offered a simpler alternative to GDP, it has limitations:

Limited Scope: It focuses solely on physical well-being and ignores crucial aspects like income, education beyond literacy, political freedom, and environmental sustainability, all of which contribute to overall quality of life.
Data Availability and Reliability: Accurate and reliable data for all three indicators might not be readily available for all countries, especially in developing nations. Data quality can significantly affect the accuracy of the PQLI calculation.
Equal Weighting: The equal weighting of the three indicators might not reflect their relative importance in different contexts. For example, in some regions, literacy might be more crucial than infant mortality in determining overall well-being.

Conclusion:

PQLI provided a valuable, albeit simplified, measure of the physical quality of life by focusing on life expectancy, infant mortality, and literacy. Its simple computation made it accessible and easy to understand. However, its limited scope and reliance on potentially unreliable data highlight the need for more comprehensive indices like the HDI, which incorporate a wider range of social and economic factors. Moving forward, development indicators should strive for inclusivity, incorporating environmental sustainability and social justice alongside economic progress to achieve truly holistic and sustainable human development, reflecting the principles of equity and fairness enshrined in many constitutions worldwide. The evolution from PQLI to the HDI demonstrates a continuous effort to refine and improve our understanding and measurement of human well-being.