Human development index-like small area estimates for Africa computed from IPUMS-integrated census microdata

This paper analyzes 24 African census samples from 13 countries available via the African Integrated Census MicroData website to illustrate how microdata may be used to assess development and pinpoint basic human needs at local administrative levels over time. We calculate a Human Development Index-...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Permanyer, Iñaki|||0000-0002-7051-5144, Esteve, Albert|||0000-0001-9916-386X, Garcia Roman, Joan|||0000-0003-2254-5450, McCaa, Robert
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Fecha de publicación:2015
País:España
Institución:Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona
Repositorio:Dipòsit Digital de Documents de la UAB
Idioma:inglés
OAI Identifier:oai:ddd.uab.cat:154792
Acceso en línea:https://ddd.uab.cat/record/154792
https://dx.doi.org/urn:doi:10.1080/19452829.2014.956300
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Human Development Index
Census microdata
Measurement
Growth
Inequality
Africa
Descripción
Sumario:This paper analyzes 24 African census samples from 13 countries available via the African Integrated Census MicroData website to illustrate how microdata may be used to assess development and pinpoint basic human needs at local administrative levels over time. We calculate a Human Development Index-like measure for small administrative areas, where much of the responsibility lies for executing policies related to health, education and general well-being. The methodological proposals introduced in this paper are particularly pertinent for the case of Africa. While it is true that data for much of Africa is not appropriate for economic growth rates or per-capita income estimates, the analysis in this paper demonstrates that they are good enough for many other purposes. Indeed, a major aggravating problem that contributes to the "African statistical tragedy" is the lack of accessibility to existing census microdata. This paper aims to illustrate the usefulness of census microdata-which are vastly under-utilized in Africa-and hopefully contribute to make them more transparent and freely accessible.