Measure Of America Index 2008
A new report released by the American Human Development Project introduces the American Human Development Index, a single measure of well-being for all Americans based on indicators in three key areas: health, education and income.
“The “Measure of America” reveals huge gaps among some groups in our country to access opportunity and reach their potential,” said Sarah Burd-Sharps, co-author of the book. “Some Americans are living anywhere from 30 to 50 years behind others when it comes to issues we all care about: health, education and standard of living. For example … people in last-ranked Mississippi are living 30 years behind those in first-ranked Connecticut.”
Using U.S. government statistics on longevity, educational attainment and enrolment, and earnings, the report reveals where America is today and sets a benchmark against which we will be able to assess where we are tomorrow. The report identifies which parts of the country are moving forward and which are stalled or even falling behind.
The Report shows that although America is one of the richest nations in the world, it is woefully behind when it comes to providing opportunity and choices to all Americans to build a better life. The report further breaks down its findings into the USA’s 436 Congressional districts. The following are just a few of the many findings of the report:
- In Texas’ 29th Congressional District, the percentage of the adult population with less than a high school degree is at about the level of the U.S. average in the early 1970s.
- Among the nation’s 436 congressional districts, New York’s 14th District (in Manhattan) ranks first and California’s 20th District (around Fresno) ranks last; the average resident of New York’s 14th District earns more than three times as much as the average California’s 20th District resident.
- Nationally, Asian males have the highest human development index score and African American males the lowest, with a staggering 50-year gap between the two groups.
- Despite the fact that the United States spends roughly $5.2 billion every day on health care, more per capita than any other nation in the world, Americans live shorter lives than citizens of every Western European and Nordic country except for one.
Obesity and the lack of health insurance for some 47 million Americans are the most significant factors in premature death.
Three Texas cities had the fastest-growing labour force in the USA from 2000 to 2005, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. For cities with populations of 25,000 or more, Frisco had 73 percent labour force growth, followed by Cedar Park (66 percent) and McKinney (53 percent). These were followed by Carmel, Indiana (50 percent), and Dania Beach, Florida (45 percent).