The Impact of Economic Inequality and Public Sector Corruption on Human Development

Comparative Case Study between Turkey and Brazil

Thesis (M.A.) , 2015 , 35 Pages

Economics - Case Scenarios

As a society we are always interested in knowing how much progress we have made over time. In the past, economists, analysts and policy-makers mainly referred to
changes in the level of gross domestic product to reflect how the population of a particular country has progressed during a given period of time. Indeed, the average material standard of the population is an essential tool in assessing how much progress a society has made.

However, various global, regional and local reports on human development have demonstrated that economic growth alone is far from sufficient as the sole condition for progressing in human development. Therefore, accurately measuring human development requires a frame that includes different key economic and social indices. Therefore, we need to think about a series of narrow and broad indicators such as per capita income but also life expectancy, education, and the extent of poverty. Based on this idea, there are different approaches that have become prominent in trying to explain what progress actually means to a society and how to measure the actual state of human development in a nation (Gallardo, 2009).

However, this dissertation is based on the results presented by the Human Development Index known to be one of the most valuable concepts in attempting to capture the state of human development in a country. According to its latest values, Turkey scores far above Brazil in the Human Development Index 2013 (United Nations Development Programme, 2014); although the World Bank indicates that Brazil has a higher level of per capita income than in Turkey (The World Bank, 2014). This paper supports the hypothesis that, in particular, the issues of economic inequality and public sector corruption have a significant impact on human development related indices. Therefore, by critically analysing and comparing relevant statistics of two comparable economies – Turkey and Brazil – this paper intends to provide a valuable explanation regarding the question: how can a country
with lower levels of per capita income achieve higher human development outcomes?

Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)

• Abstract
• Chapter One: Introduction
• Chapter Two: Background Information
  • 2.1 Human Development Index (HDI)
  • 2.2 The Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI)
  • 2.3 World Development Indicators (WDI)
• Chapter Three: The Impact of Economic Inequality on Human Development in Turkey and Brazil
  • 3.1 GNI per capita and Human Development Index in Turkey and Brazil
    • 3.1.1 Comparing the per capita level of GNI in Turkey and Brazil
    • 3.1.2 GNI per capita in Turkey and Brazil during the last decade
    • 3.1.3 HDI value changes in Turkey and Brazil since 2010
  • 3.2 Human Development Index (HDI) versus Inequality-Adjusted Human Development Index (IHDI)
    • 3.2.1 The IHDI
    • 3.2.2 HDI versus IHDI
    • 3.2.3 Comparing inequalities in each component - Healthcare, Education, and Income
      • 3.2.3.1 Healthcare
      • 3.2.3.2 Education
      • 3.2.3.3 Income
  • 3.3 Focusing on Economic Inequality
    • 3.3.1 What is meant by economic inequality?
    • 3.3.2 Gini Coefficient in Turkey and Brazil
    • 3.3.3 Income Distribution in Turkey and Brazil
• Chapter Four: Public Sector Corruption in Turkey and Brazil
  • 4.1 Why Focusing on Corruption Particularly in Public Sector?
  • 4.2 Comparing relevant data in Turkey and Brazil in the year of 2013
  • 4.3 Comparing relevant data in Turkey and Brazil since 2010
• Chapter Five: Closing Thoughts

Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)

This comparative case study aims to explain how Turkey achieved higher human development outcomes than Brazil, despite having lower economic growth. By analyzing and comparing relevant data, the study provides empirical and statistical evidence for a strong negative relationship between economic inequality and human development achievements.

• The impact of economic inequality on human development outcomes
• The relationship between GNI per capita and human development indicators
• The role of public sector corruption in contributing to economic inequalities
• The importance of income distribution and its impact on human development
• The comparative analysis of human development trends in Turkey and Brazil

Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)

Chapter Two provides background information on the key indicators used in the study: the Human Development Index (HDI), the Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI), and the World Development Indicators (WDI). Chapter Three focuses on the impact of economic inequality on human development in Turkey and Brazil. It compares the GNI per capita and HDI values of both countries, analyzes the HDI versus IHDI, and examines inequalities in healthcare, education, and income. Chapter Four investigates the role of public sector corruption in Turkey and Brazil, highlighting its impact on human development achievements.

Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)

The study explores the key concepts of economic inequality, human development, public sector corruption, and the relationship between these factors. It draws on data from international organizations such as the United Nations Development Program, Transparency International, and the World Bank, using indicators such as the Human Development Index, the Corruption Perceptions Index, and the World Development Indicators.

• College: University of Westminster
• Course: International Economic Policy and Analysis
• Author: Ferdi Ilkhan (Author)
• Publication Year: 2015
• Pages: 35
• Catalog Number: V288517
• ISBN (eBook): 9783656889908
• ISBN (Book): 9783656889915
• Language: English
• Tags: impact, economic, inequality, public, sector, corruption, human, development, comparative, case, study, turkey, brazil