- Email: [email protected]
Human Development Report
348
Reviews / Journal of Government Information 28 (2001) 303 – 366
direct links to some of the groups or an introduction to the Emmerce link that will tell people more about what they will find there. The remaining boxes linking to previous documents, joint statements, and the Department of Commerce provide fine access to these areas, though it is standard and unexceptional. Following this list are the nine icons linking to notable agencies and entities. These icons are graphically appealing and link to vast amounts of content, and for those two reasons alone, serve this site very well. The form to search this site follows, and given both the extent of content presented on this site and the import of policy developments in this area, the designers of the site could highlight this component more and offer some explanation of its indexing capabilities, particularly since many users of this site are likely to be quite sophisticated, whether they are employed by governments, the private sector or academic institutions. The indexing capability appears to be minimally sufficient, utilizing an abbreviated form of Boolean searching, and it appears to be comprehensive. However, it does not yet provide options to search by fields such as foreign language, date and source specificity, for example, and many users would appreciate an advanced search option up to the level of many business, legal and news databases. The search form could also be placed more prominently and in a couple of different places within the site. This site has been and will continue to be a boon for both public and private sector electronic commerce researchers as it provides so much, well-detailed information and access to both domestic and foreign documents, agencies, and groups. Though there is a paucity of content and links within some sections, either leaving some very interesting material out entirely or buried deeply, and it could use an enhanced search engine, it will continue to be a site that many rely on. Expansion of this site and some additional reformatting of content would be an asset and further develop its appeal to a good number of users. Sarah Holmes Northeast Regional Library Coordinator, KPMG LLP 2 Oliver Street, Boston, MA 02109, USA PII: S 1 3 5 2 - 0 2 3 7 ( 0 1 ) 0 0 3 0 6 - 9
Human Development Report United Nations Development Programme, New York, Oxford University Press, 1999. 262 p., UN Sales No. E.99.III.B.43, ISBN 0-19-521561-3. US$19.95 The Human Development Report, first published by Oxford University Press for the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in 1990, is the world’s leading source of international development data and a critical assessment of human progress. It is also one of the most useful, widely read, and controversial UN publications in print. Reviewed in a broad range of academic journals, from Professional Geographer to International Affairs, the report makes headlines soon after its release, and often provokes angry and defensive responses
Reviews / Journal of Government Information 28 (2001) 303 – 366
349
from national governments. Hailed as ‘‘one of the major sources of information and understanding of the social and economic world’’ (Sen, 1998) and lambasted as ‘‘crude, misleading, and ultimately counterproductive’’ (Foster, 1999), its eloquent denunciations of global imbalance make many governments, including the United States, extremely nervous. There are few UN publications that attract such wide interest, or receive as much publicity. Published in 10 languages: English, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish, Catalan, Arabic, Japanese, and Russian, the report’s success has spawned a host of ‘‘national human development reports.’’ Since 1990, over 260 of these have been produced, covering over 120 countries and nine subregional areas. Over the past 10 years, each Human Development Report has had a specific focus, including human security (1993), gender (1995), and poverty (1997). This year’s theme is ‘‘Globalization with a Human Face.’’ It has almost become an assumption in these times that the rapid pace of globalization and the reliance on free markets have led to universal human progress. While remarkable advances have been made, the Human Development Report argues that the much-heralded advances in telecommunication, biotechnology, and the Internet have not benefited the majority of the world’s population — just the wealthiest 20%. Economic globalization may be advancing at an astonishing rate, but it has also resulted in increased human insecurity, crime, environmental degradation, and financial turmoil. The Internet, which offers tremendous advantages for those who can afford access, has marginalized and cut off the developing world. Multilateral agreements like the Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) are negotiated chiefly by industrialized countries. Such instruments, for example, allow multinational corporations to patent traditional medicines, robbing indigenous peoples from a share of the wealth — industrial countries own 97% of the world’s patents. The cultural onslaught of Hollywood (grossing US$30 billion worth of films worldwide in 1997, the largest US export industry) threatens to swallow up cultural diversity, as the huge influx of American films and name brands inundates other countries. One of the Human Development Report’s most useful features is its unique statistical data. Macroeconomic and financial statistics are abundant: they can be found in any number of publications from the World Bank, the OECD, or the IMF. The Human Development Report includes economic information as well, but it specializes in international development statistics. Many of these figures, such as ‘‘Children Not Reaching Grade 5,’’ ‘‘People with Disabilities as a Percentage of Total Population,’’ ‘‘Cigarette Consumption Per Adult,’’ and ‘‘Female Tertiary Science Enrollment’’ reveal significant causal relationships that are difficult, if not impossible, to find elsewhere. Much of the data is shocking, almost beyond belief. The assets of the top three billionaires are more than the combined GNP of the 48 least-developed countries and their 600 million people (p. 3). Cosmetic drugs and slow ripening tomatoes receive more R&D funding than a vaccine against malaria (p. 68). Thailand has more cellular phones than Africa (p. 6). A yearly contribution of 1% of the wealth of the 200 richest people could provide universal access to education for all (p. 38). While the validity of such figures never goes unchallenged in the press, the data present a grossly imbalanced picture of the world that all but the most skeptical will find unsettling. One of the report’s chief claims to fame is the Human Development Index (HDI), designed in 1990 as a statistical indicator of human progress. The concept of the index is simply that
350
Reviews / Journal of Government Information 28 (2001) 303 – 366
economic growth does equal human progress. Per capita incomes, GDP, and industrial production may rise, but if this coincides with declines in health care, literacy, access to safe drinking water, and environmental degradation, then simple dollar figures are deceptive. Case in point: GDP per capita in Singapore exceeds that of Spain by more than US$13,000 (almost twice as much), but Spain receives a higher HDI ranking because of Singapore’s human rights record. The UNDP has also developed additional indices to measure human poverty (the Human Poverty Index) gender-related development (the Gender-Related Development Index), and gender empowerment (the Gender Empowerment Measure). Methodology for each of these indicators is documented in a separate section. What then is the solution to the world’s development problems? The answer for the UNDP is an increased role in ‘‘global governance,’’ including a global central bank, a world environment agency, an international criminal court, and a two-chamber General Assembly. The term ‘‘governance’’ refers to a ‘‘framework of rules, institutions, and established practices that set limits and give incentives for the behavior of individuals, organizations, and firms’’ (p. 8). Such strategies are unlikely to score many points in the United States and other G-7 countries, which have already accused the UN of reckless waste and corruption, and insisted on downsizing and reform. In such a political context, the prospect of increased international bureaucracy cannot be expected to gain much support. What is interesting is that although the influence of international organizations may be limited, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) are making remarkable advances. As the report testifies, NGO employment is nearly 9 million in the United States alone. Grassroots organizations are expanding rapidly in the Southern Hemisphere, in places like Bangladesh and Uganda, where they are creating alliances with national governments to work towards common goals. NGOs now have access to the Internet, which enables them to spread their message faster than ever before. In 1997, OECD countries began negotiating the terms for the Multilateral Agreement on Investment, which allegedly gave multinational corporations unfair competitive advantages over domestic enterprises. When word of the agreement’s shortcomings gained the attention of NGOs, they launched an Internet publicity blitz. Under pressure from environmental groups, trade unions, church groups, and the media, the negotiations broke down. Whether, or not one agrees with its policy recommendations, the Human Development Report has merits that go far beyond political agendas. It is probably the best international development reference tool. It consistently champions the cause of the agenda of the world’s poor and disadvantaged, and has the power to shock and influence individuals, the media, and national governments alike. Not only that, it is a genuine pleasure to read: well written, clear, and extraordinarily powerful. Few government publications at any level have achieved so much, and for this the publication deserves the utmost respect.
Notes Foster, P. (1999, July 14). The Bureaucrats’ Pursuit of Happiness. National Post, Vol. 1, No. 222, C07. Sen, A. (1998, October 15). Mahbub ul Haq: the courage and creativity of his ideas. Speech at the Memorial Meeting for Mahbub ul Haq, Economic and Social Chamber of the United States.
Reviews / Journal of Government Information 28 (2001) 303 – 366
351
James A. Church Government Information University of California, San Diego La Jolla, CA 92093-0175, USA PII: S 1 3 5 2 - 0 2 3 7 ( 0 1 ) 0 0 3 0 7 - 0
History of the Federal Judiciary Website Washington, DC: The Federal Judicial Center. Accessed May 2000. http://air.fjc.gov/history The History of the Federal Judiciary (HFJ) website was launched on February 10, 2000 under the direction of the Federal Judicial Center (FJC). Congress created the FJC in 1967 to provide education and training for the federal courts. Fern Smith, the Center’s Director and a United States District Judge, outlined the HFJ’s purpose as to ‘‘encourage study of the federal courts and greater understanding of their evolution and development’’. To promote better understanding of federal courts, the site has information from 1789 to present as well as the first ever judges’ database of all of the judges in the federal system. Content and scope ensure that this site will be frequently visited and cited. One of the sections of this website that will be popular is the database of judges within the United States Courts. The coverage of the database includes biographical information ‘‘for all judges who have served on the US District Courts, US Circuit Courts, US Courts of Appeals, and the Supreme Court since 1789’’ (http://air.fjc.gov/history/judges_frm.html). The database was last updated May 1, 2000. There is an alphabetical listing, by surname, with links that allow for scrolling. If a user needs assistance in performing a search, there is a comprehensive ‘‘how-to’’ provided (http://air.fjc.gov/history/jabout_frm.html) within the page. Information retrieved generally includes the following fields: date and place of birth, Federal Judicial Service, education, professional career, race or ethnicity, and gender. The database even provides the sources and citation information for all of the judges. In addition to biographical information provided by the site, there are descriptions of the different courts within the federal judiciary. The web authors have included a systematic history of each court: Appeals, Circuit, District, and the Supreme Court. The legislative history and the organization of each court are given in a chronological format. Citations are given from various sources, like the Statutes at Large, with hot links to additional resources. This section of the HFJ page is quite useful for beginning researchers. Specific pieces of important judicial legislation are outlined in a section of the website entitled ‘‘Landmark Judicial Legislation.’’ This page offers a concise timeline of 21 major statutes that have had a significant effect on the federal judiciary from 1787 to 1982. Statutes of great importance include: the establishment of the US Bankruptcy Courts (1978), the legislation that established the US Circuit Court of Appeals (1891), and the beginnings of the FJC (1967). For navigation purposes, a tool bar is launched once one selects a particular statute summary.
Reviews / Journal of Government Information 28 (2001) 303 – 366
direct links to some of the groups or an introduction to the Emmerce link that will tell people more about what they will find there. The remaining boxes linking to previous documents, joint statements, and the Department of Commerce provide fine access to these areas, though it is standard and unexceptional. Following this list are the nine icons linking to notable agencies and entities. These icons are graphically appealing and link to vast amounts of content, and for those two reasons alone, serve this site very well. The form to search this site follows, and given both the extent of content presented on this site and the import of policy developments in this area, the designers of the site could highlight this component more and offer some explanation of its indexing capabilities, particularly since many users of this site are likely to be quite sophisticated, whether they are employed by governments, the private sector or academic institutions. The indexing capability appears to be minimally sufficient, utilizing an abbreviated form of Boolean searching, and it appears to be comprehensive. However, it does not yet provide options to search by fields such as foreign language, date and source specificity, for example, and many users would appreciate an advanced search option up to the level of many business, legal and news databases. The search form could also be placed more prominently and in a couple of different places within the site. This site has been and will continue to be a boon for both public and private sector electronic commerce researchers as it provides so much, well-detailed information and access to both domestic and foreign documents, agencies, and groups. Though there is a paucity of content and links within some sections, either leaving some very interesting material out entirely or buried deeply, and it could use an enhanced search engine, it will continue to be a site that many rely on. Expansion of this site and some additional reformatting of content would be an asset and further develop its appeal to a good number of users. Sarah Holmes Northeast Regional Library Coordinator, KPMG LLP 2 Oliver Street, Boston, MA 02109, USA PII: S 1 3 5 2 - 0 2 3 7 ( 0 1 ) 0 0 3 0 6 - 9
Human Development Report United Nations Development Programme, New York, Oxford University Press, 1999. 262 p., UN Sales No. E.99.III.B.43, ISBN 0-19-521561-3. US$19.95 The Human Development Report, first published by Oxford University Press for the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in 1990, is the world’s leading source of international development data and a critical assessment of human progress. It is also one of the most useful, widely read, and controversial UN publications in print. Reviewed in a broad range of academic journals, from Professional Geographer to International Affairs, the report makes headlines soon after its release, and often provokes angry and defensive responses
Reviews / Journal of Government Information 28 (2001) 303 – 366
349
from national governments. Hailed as ‘‘one of the major sources of information and understanding of the social and economic world’’ (Sen, 1998) and lambasted as ‘‘crude, misleading, and ultimately counterproductive’’ (Foster, 1999), its eloquent denunciations of global imbalance make many governments, including the United States, extremely nervous. There are few UN publications that attract such wide interest, or receive as much publicity. Published in 10 languages: English, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish, Catalan, Arabic, Japanese, and Russian, the report’s success has spawned a host of ‘‘national human development reports.’’ Since 1990, over 260 of these have been produced, covering over 120 countries and nine subregional areas. Over the past 10 years, each Human Development Report has had a specific focus, including human security (1993), gender (1995), and poverty (1997). This year’s theme is ‘‘Globalization with a Human Face.’’ It has almost become an assumption in these times that the rapid pace of globalization and the reliance on free markets have led to universal human progress. While remarkable advances have been made, the Human Development Report argues that the much-heralded advances in telecommunication, biotechnology, and the Internet have not benefited the majority of the world’s population — just the wealthiest 20%. Economic globalization may be advancing at an astonishing rate, but it has also resulted in increased human insecurity, crime, environmental degradation, and financial turmoil. The Internet, which offers tremendous advantages for those who can afford access, has marginalized and cut off the developing world. Multilateral agreements like the Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) are negotiated chiefly by industrialized countries. Such instruments, for example, allow multinational corporations to patent traditional medicines, robbing indigenous peoples from a share of the wealth — industrial countries own 97% of the world’s patents. The cultural onslaught of Hollywood (grossing US$30 billion worth of films worldwide in 1997, the largest US export industry) threatens to swallow up cultural diversity, as the huge influx of American films and name brands inundates other countries. One of the Human Development Report’s most useful features is its unique statistical data. Macroeconomic and financial statistics are abundant: they can be found in any number of publications from the World Bank, the OECD, or the IMF. The Human Development Report includes economic information as well, but it specializes in international development statistics. Many of these figures, such as ‘‘Children Not Reaching Grade 5,’’ ‘‘People with Disabilities as a Percentage of Total Population,’’ ‘‘Cigarette Consumption Per Adult,’’ and ‘‘Female Tertiary Science Enrollment’’ reveal significant causal relationships that are difficult, if not impossible, to find elsewhere. Much of the data is shocking, almost beyond belief. The assets of the top three billionaires are more than the combined GNP of the 48 least-developed countries and their 600 million people (p. 3). Cosmetic drugs and slow ripening tomatoes receive more R&D funding than a vaccine against malaria (p. 68). Thailand has more cellular phones than Africa (p. 6). A yearly contribution of 1% of the wealth of the 200 richest people could provide universal access to education for all (p. 38). While the validity of such figures never goes unchallenged in the press, the data present a grossly imbalanced picture of the world that all but the most skeptical will find unsettling. One of the report’s chief claims to fame is the Human Development Index (HDI), designed in 1990 as a statistical indicator of human progress. The concept of the index is simply that
350
Reviews / Journal of Government Information 28 (2001) 303 – 366
economic growth does equal human progress. Per capita incomes, GDP, and industrial production may rise, but if this coincides with declines in health care, literacy, access to safe drinking water, and environmental degradation, then simple dollar figures are deceptive. Case in point: GDP per capita in Singapore exceeds that of Spain by more than US$13,000 (almost twice as much), but Spain receives a higher HDI ranking because of Singapore’s human rights record. The UNDP has also developed additional indices to measure human poverty (the Human Poverty Index) gender-related development (the Gender-Related Development Index), and gender empowerment (the Gender Empowerment Measure). Methodology for each of these indicators is documented in a separate section. What then is the solution to the world’s development problems? The answer for the UNDP is an increased role in ‘‘global governance,’’ including a global central bank, a world environment agency, an international criminal court, and a two-chamber General Assembly. The term ‘‘governance’’ refers to a ‘‘framework of rules, institutions, and established practices that set limits and give incentives for the behavior of individuals, organizations, and firms’’ (p. 8). Such strategies are unlikely to score many points in the United States and other G-7 countries, which have already accused the UN of reckless waste and corruption, and insisted on downsizing and reform. In such a political context, the prospect of increased international bureaucracy cannot be expected to gain much support. What is interesting is that although the influence of international organizations may be limited, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) are making remarkable advances. As the report testifies, NGO employment is nearly 9 million in the United States alone. Grassroots organizations are expanding rapidly in the Southern Hemisphere, in places like Bangladesh and Uganda, where they are creating alliances with national governments to work towards common goals. NGOs now have access to the Internet, which enables them to spread their message faster than ever before. In 1997, OECD countries began negotiating the terms for the Multilateral Agreement on Investment, which allegedly gave multinational corporations unfair competitive advantages over domestic enterprises. When word of the agreement’s shortcomings gained the attention of NGOs, they launched an Internet publicity blitz. Under pressure from environmental groups, trade unions, church groups, and the media, the negotiations broke down. Whether, or not one agrees with its policy recommendations, the Human Development Report has merits that go far beyond political agendas. It is probably the best international development reference tool. It consistently champions the cause of the agenda of the world’s poor and disadvantaged, and has the power to shock and influence individuals, the media, and national governments alike. Not only that, it is a genuine pleasure to read: well written, clear, and extraordinarily powerful. Few government publications at any level have achieved so much, and for this the publication deserves the utmost respect.
Notes Foster, P. (1999, July 14). The Bureaucrats’ Pursuit of Happiness. National Post, Vol. 1, No. 222, C07. Sen, A. (1998, October 15). Mahbub ul Haq: the courage and creativity of his ideas. Speech at the Memorial Meeting for Mahbub ul Haq, Economic and Social Chamber of the United States.
Reviews / Journal of Government Information 28 (2001) 303 – 366
351
James A. Church Government Information University of California, San Diego La Jolla, CA 92093-0175, USA PII: S 1 3 5 2 - 0 2 3 7 ( 0 1 ) 0 0 3 0 7 - 0
History of the Federal Judiciary Website Washington, DC: The Federal Judicial Center. Accessed May 2000. http://air.fjc.gov/history The History of the Federal Judiciary (HFJ) website was launched on February 10, 2000 under the direction of the Federal Judicial Center (FJC). Congress created the FJC in 1967 to provide education and training for the federal courts. Fern Smith, the Center’s Director and a United States District Judge, outlined the HFJ’s purpose as to ‘‘encourage study of the federal courts and greater understanding of their evolution and development’’. To promote better understanding of federal courts, the site has information from 1789 to present as well as the first ever judges’ database of all of the judges in the federal system. Content and scope ensure that this site will be frequently visited and cited. One of the sections of this website that will be popular is the database of judges within the United States Courts. The coverage of the database includes biographical information ‘‘for all judges who have served on the US District Courts, US Circuit Courts, US Courts of Appeals, and the Supreme Court since 1789’’ (http://air.fjc.gov/history/judges_frm.html). The database was last updated May 1, 2000. There is an alphabetical listing, by surname, with links that allow for scrolling. If a user needs assistance in performing a search, there is a comprehensive ‘‘how-to’’ provided (http://air.fjc.gov/history/jabout_frm.html) within the page. Information retrieved generally includes the following fields: date and place of birth, Federal Judicial Service, education, professional career, race or ethnicity, and gender. The database even provides the sources and citation information for all of the judges. In addition to biographical information provided by the site, there are descriptions of the different courts within the federal judiciary. The web authors have included a systematic history of each court: Appeals, Circuit, District, and the Supreme Court. The legislative history and the organization of each court are given in a chronological format. Citations are given from various sources, like the Statutes at Large, with hot links to additional resources. This section of the HFJ page is quite useful for beginning researchers. Specific pieces of important judicial legislation are outlined in a section of the website entitled ‘‘Landmark Judicial Legislation.’’ This page offers a concise timeline of 21 major statutes that have had a significant effect on the federal judiciary from 1787 to 1982. Statutes of great importance include: the establishment of the US Bankruptcy Courts (1978), the legislation that established the US Circuit Court of Appeals (1891), and the beginnings of the FJC (1967). For navigation purposes, a tool bar is launched once one selects a particular statute summary.