An estimation of the adjusted human development index for the Colombian departments

Abstract

This research aims to estimate two adjusted human development indices for Colombia. The estimation is carried out for the period 2002-2010 and covers thirteen Colombian departments in order to disclose the effect produced by both labor informality and secondary and tertiary education on human development. The approach and methodology used is presented by the United Nations Program for Development (UNDP), save for a variation in the construction of educational attainment rates and per capita GDP. Results show that labor informality impairs human development, while greater coverage in secondary education and higher education have a positive influence on achievement as measured by the adjusted human development index for Colombia. This is essential for establishing policy recommendations from a regional and territorial perspective.