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The Sustainable Child Development Index (SCDI) for Countries

Author

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  • Ya-Ju Chang

    (Institute of Environmental Technology, Technische Universität Berlin, Straße des 17. Juni 135, 10623 Berlin, Germany)

  • Annekatrin Lehmann

    (Institute of Environmental Technology, Technische Universität Berlin, Straße des 17. Juni 135, 10623 Berlin, Germany)

  • Lisa Winter

    (Institute of Environmental Technology, Technische Universität Berlin, Straße des 17. Juni 135, 10623 Berlin, Germany)

  • Matthias Finkbeiner

    (Institute of Environmental Technology, Technische Universität Berlin, Straße des 17. Juni 135, 10623 Berlin, Germany)

Abstract

Despite the relevance of children in inheriting and shaping society, an index assessing sustainable development with a focus on children is missing. To tackle this gap, this study established the Sustainable Child Development Index (SCDI) by considering child development topics in the context of inter-generational equity and applying indicators with available statistical data on country level. The SCDI at present addresses health, education, safety, economic status and environmental aspects described by 25 indicators. By taking reference points derived from the targets of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the SCDI scores for the year 2015 were calculated for 138 countries and then classified into four sustainable child development levels (very high, high, medium and low). The results showed great regional inequality on the status of sustainable child development. European countries generally have better status of sustainable child development. By contrast, 90% of African and 76% of Asian countries were classified as countries with medium and low levels. Moreover, the comparison of the SCDI, the Human Development Index (HDI) and the Child Development Index (CDI) based on correlation analysis and 10-year (2006–2015) country rankings demonstrated that the SCDI can complement existing development indices to provide a more comprehensive evaluation of sustainable development.

Suggested Citation

  • Ya-Ju Chang & Annekatrin Lehmann & Lisa Winter & Matthias Finkbeiner, 2018. "The Sustainable Child Development Index (SCDI) for Countries," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(5), pages 1-21, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:10:y:2018:i:5:p:1563-:d:146295
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Kenneth Land & Vicki Lamb & Sarah Meadows & Ashley Taylor, 2007. "Measuring trends in child well-being: an evidence-based approach," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 80(1), pages 105-132, January.
    2. World Commission on Environment and Development,, 1987. "Our Common Future," OUP Catalogue, Oxford University Press, number 9780192820808.
    3. United Nations, 2016. "The Sustainable Development Goals 2016," Working Papers id:11456, eSocialSciences.
    4. Kristin Moore & Sharon Vandivere & Laura Lippman & Cameron McPhee & Margot Bloch, 2007. "An Index of the Condition of Children: The Ideal and a Less-than-Ideal U.S. Example," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 84(3), pages 291-331, December.
    5. Liliana Fernandes & Américo Mendes & Aurora Teixeira, 2012. "A Review Essay on the Measurement of Child Well-Being," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 106(2), pages 239-257, April.
    6. Jonathan Bradshaw & Petra Hoelscher & Dominic Richardson, 2007. "An Index of Child Well-being in the European Union," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 80(1), pages 133-177, January.
    7. Kenneth Land & Vicki Lamb & Sarah Mustillo, 2001. "Child and Youth Well-Being in the United States, 1975–1998: Some Findings from a New Index," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 56(3), pages 241-318, December.
    8. Ya-Ju Chang & Laura Schneider & Matthias Finkbeiner, 2015. "Assessing Child Development: A Critical Review and the Sustainable Child Development Index (SCDI)," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 7(5), pages 1-24, April.
    9. Ya-Ju Chang & Annekatrin Lehmann & Matthias Finkbeiner, 2017. "Screening Indicators for the Sustainable Child Development Index (SCDI)," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(4), pages 1-19, March.
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    Cited by:

    1. Ghosh, Anindita & Rangan, Divy & Chakraborty, Lekha, 2022. "Public Financial Management and Budgeting for Children: Evidence from Telangana, India," Working Papers 22/379, National Institute of Public Finance and Policy.
    2. He Li & Ziyang Liu, 2022. "Family Environment and Rural Child Development in Shanxi, China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(20), pages 1-14, October.
    3. Mario Biggeri & Lucia Ferrone, 2021. "Measuring Child Multidimensional Deprivation: A Sustainability Perspective," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(7), pages 1-19, April.
    4. Ya-Ju Chang & Annekatrin Lehmann & Lisa Winter & Matthias Finkbeiner, 2018. "Application Options of the Sustainable Child Development Index (SCDI)—Assessing the Status of Sustainable Development and Establishing Social Impact Pathways," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(7), pages 1-21, July.
    5. Biggeri, Mario & Ferrone, Lucia, 2022. "Child Sustainable Human Development Index (CSHDI): Monitoring progress for the future generation," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 192(C).

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