From Progress to Happiness: Measurements for Latin America

• Authors: Sary Levy-Carciente , Luis Mauricio Phélan , Jhoner Perdomo
• Languages of publication: EN

Abstracts

EN

This paper is based on a transformed concept of development: from a concept of development that is single-dimensional, concrete, and mainly quantitative, into one that is multidimensional. We focus on the components of development, the measurement of which includes qualitative observations of its effect on final beneficiaries. Because a useful understanding of development policies requires an evaluation of all the different metrics that emerge, we evaluate the development indices of 19 Latin American countries. The most recent theoretical perspectives link development to both liberal philosophy - focusing on the many dimensions of human society and the fundamental rights of the individual - and utilitarianism - emphasizing an evaluation of the success of various development policies and the usefulness of their outcomes.

Keywords

EN

Development; Latin America; Metrics; Quality of life; Social indicators

• Publisher: Sciendo
• Journal: Social Change Review
• Year: 2014
• Volume: 12
• Issue: 1
• Pages: 73-112

Dates

published

2014-07-01

online

2014-08-15

Contributors

author

Sary Levy-Carciente

• Universidad Central de Venezuela, Faculty of Economic and Social Sciences, Ciudad Universitaria de Caracas, Caracas, Venezuela/ Boston University, Physics Department, Center of Polymer Studies, 590 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, MA 02215, United States

author

Luis Mauricio Phélan

• Universidad Central de Venezuela, Faculty of Economic and Social Sciences, Ciudad Universitaria de Caracas, Caracas, Venezuela

author

Jhoner Perdomo

• Universidad Central de Venezuela, Faculty of Economic and Social Sciences, Ciudad Universitaria de Caracas, Caracas, Venezuela

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Identifiers

DOI

10.2478/scr-2014-0004