Socio-Index-e

Synthetic Indices of Social and Natural Development

V.S. Golubev

The synthetic index of development SID is a sum of parameters which characterize "physical" capital F, "human" H, and "ecological" capital E. The following assumptions are made: the quantity of F is equal to gross national product (GNP), the quantity of H is a sum of production of "social" capital S and "intellectual" capital I. The value S is proportional to the specific social charges per capita CC. Quantity of H is proportional to value of specific spiritual capital SC. The quantity of E is proportional to terrestrial vegetation annual production P. In view of the mentioned assumptions the equation for SID has a form:

SID = GNP + alphaCC + betaSC + deltaP,

where alpha, beta and delta are coefficients.
By this time author investigated index of socialization SI which characterizes level of social security of population, so that:

SI = GNP + alphaCC

     The method of coefficient alpha calculating was developed. This method is based on comparison the relative contribution of GNP and CC in an index SI. Calculating which is based on World Bank data for GNP and CC gave parameters SI. These parameters are presented for some countries in a table (see below).
     In addition, values of index of man development IMD in 1994 according to UN data are given. Data of the table show that the index SI has better potential ability than IMD. It allows ranging the level of the country development more precisely.
     The next step was to take into account ecological factors. For this purpose the index SID* is suggested. This index includes alongside with GNP and CC the value P, so that:

SID* = GNP + alphaCC + deltaP

      A.M. Tarko calculated values P for the different countries on the basis of his Global Spatial Model of the Carbon Cycle in the Biosphere. A method of calculating coefficients alpha and delta is similar to calculate coefficient alpha.
    Taking into account the ecological capital (see table) changes estimations of the level of countries development. Under the estimation SID* index of countries development Australia becomes the first in a list of investigated countries.
    Thus, the usage of indices SI, SID and SID* to characterize a level of development of the countries is perspective because it takes into account human and ecological capitals.

Country	P, tons C/ (cap. yr.)	SI, 1000$/ (cap. yr.)			SID*, 1000$/ (cap. yr.)	IMD
Country	P, tons C/ (cap. yr.)	1992	1994	1995	1994	1995
Australia	175.4	23.8	28.0	33.2	56.0	0.932
Austria	0.71	40.1	49.8	54.7	49.9	0.933
Brazil	59.4	3.7	4.3	5.3	13.8	0.809
Gr. Britain	2.9	31.0	31.0	32.2	31.5	0.932
Denmark	4.1	42.0	52.1	52.5	52.7	0.928
Israel	0.67	31.2	25.1	28.1	25.2	0.913
India	2.8	0.33	0.34	0.39	0.79	0.451
Ireland	13.3	21.2	26.0	26.8	28.1	0.930
Spain	7.9	21.0	20.0	23.3	21.3	0.935
Netherlands	2.3	40.0	50.2	45.9	50.6	0.941
New Zealand	48.3	21.2	25.0	27.7	32.7	0.939
Norway	23.4	45.8	51.9	52.5	55.7	0.943
Russia	22.6	-	4.0	3.3	7.6	0.769
USA	18.1	31.2	36.6	46.7	39.5	0.943
Finland	20.9	37.7	37.4	38.0	50.4	0.942
France	50.1	42.0	50.1	49.1	51.0	0.946
Switzerland	6.8	-	-	81.3	-	0.930
Sweden	47.1	54.0	47.1	44.1	50.4	0.936
S. Korea	1.7	7.8	10.0	15.1	10.3	0.894

Reference

Golubev V.S. (1990). Ecological Development and its Indices. Social Sciences and Modern Times, 4, 159-166 (in Russian).