Composite measures of progress and

international comparison

challenges and opportunities

Afsaneh Yazdani

UNESCAP

Statistics Division

Afsaneh.Yazdani@un.org

https://mipaa.unescapsdd.org/mipaa-and-2030-agenda

Question:

How to measure

and monitor a

multi-dimensional

complex concept?

Start with

Developing conceptual

framework, and selection of

dimensions/indicators

Proceed with

Gathering and processing

data, and calculating each

indicator

Example of a conceptual framework

Concept

Dimensions

Indicators

Dimensions:

Must cover all key aspects of the concept

Consult stakeholders (policy, civil society,

research community, ...)

Indicators:

Must be relevant and strongly correlated

with the dimensions

Have sufficient data available from reliable

source

Consult statisticians

Indicators

Composite

Index

Examples of composite index

Human Development Index (HDI)http://hdr.undp.org/en/content/human-development-index-hdi

Multi-dimensional Poverty Index (MPI)

http://hdr.undp.org/en/2018-MPI

Active ageing indexhttps://www.unece.org/fileadmin/DAM/pau/age/Active_Agein

g_Index/AAI_leaflet.pdf

Technical considerations

lack of common unit

Normalisation

Agree upon

relative importance of

individual

indicators/dimensions

Technical considerations

?WEIGHTS

Individual

indicators

Composite indices

at the level of

dimensions

Composite indices

at the level of

concept

Spectrum of aggregation

oMore loss of information

oMore likely to be misinterpreted

oAnswer less specific questions

oMore ambiguous and complex

methodology

oSimpler to visualize & communicate

oAllow rankings

oAttract media and high level officials

Dashboard

Audience?

Purpose of analysis?

Where to strike

the balance

between loss of

information and

simplicity

Composite indices and indicators

are complementary

ESCAP Practice in SDG

progress assessment

Goal

Target

Indicator

Asia-Pacific at goal level (concept)

Asia-Pacific at target level (dimension)

Asia-Pacific at indicator level

QA

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