The improvement of development statistics has been an important component of UNRISD research since the early 1960s. Improvement of Development Data and Methods of Analysis and Monitoring and Patterns of Consumption: Qualitative Aspects of Development are two of the Institute’s more recent projects on this subject. Improvement of Development Data and Methods of Analysis and Monitoring critically reviewed the existing concepts, indicators and methods used in the collection of social data. The project helped to create new methodologies for data collection and it evolved and modified statistical methods of use and analysis of data. Patterns of Consumption: Qualitative Aspects of Development assessed the nature and quality of existing statistical information dealing with living conditions and consumption patterns in India, Morocco and Kenya.
Selected publications from the Institute’s early work on indicators
- The Level of Living Index, Jan Drewnowski, UNRISD, 1966
- Compilation of Development Indicators (for 1960), Statistical Unit, UNRISD 1969
- Contents and Measurement of Socio-economic Development, Donald McGranahan et al. UNRISD and Praeger, 1972
- Distribution of Income and Economic Growth: Concepts and Issues, Nancy Baster, UNRISD, 1970
- Studies in the Measurement of Levels of Living and Welfare, Jan Drewnowski, UNRISD, 1970
- Improvement of Development Statistics, Report of a Group of Experts, UNRISD, 1976
- Research Data Bank of Development Indicators:
- Vol. I: Compilation of Indicators for 1970, UNRISD 1976
- Vol. II: Compilation of Indicators for 1970 with Adjustments for Age Structure, UNRISD, 1976
- Vol. III: 1960-1970 Comparisons, UNRISD, 1976
- Vol. IV: Notes on the Indicators, UNRISD, 1978
- Measurement and Analysis of Progress at the Local Level. Vol. I: An Overview, Wolf Scott, UNRISD, 1978
- Measurement and Analysis of Progress at the Local Level. Vol. II: Country Case Studies in Ghana, India and Poland, Jette Bukh et al., UNRISD, 1978
- Measurement and Analysis of Progress at the Local Level. Vol. III: Country Case Studies in Argentina, Iran, Mexico, Nigeria and Papua New Guinea, Raymond Apthorpe et al., UNRISD, 1979
- International Comparability of Statistics on Income Distribution, Donald McGranahan (with assistance from Nguyen Hong), UNRISD, 1979
- Methodological Problems in Selection and Analysis of Socio-Economic Development Indicators, Donald McGranahan, Eduardo Pizarro and Claude Richard, UNRISD, 1979
- A Development Monitoring Service at the Local Level. Vol. I: Socio-economic Observation Areas in Kerala, N.T. Mathew and Wolf Scott, UNRISD, 1980
- Improvement of Information on the Conditions of Children, Donald McGranahan, UNRISD, 1980
- Concepts and Measurement of Poverty, Wolf Scott, UNRISD, 1981
- Development Statistics and Correlations: A Comment on Hicks and Streeten, Donald McGranahan, Eduardo Pizarro and Claude Richard, UNRISD, 1981
- A Development Monitoring Service at the Local Level. Vol. II: Levels of Living in Kerala, Wolf Scott and N.T. Mathew, UNRISD, 1983
- A Development Monitoring Service at the Local Level. Vol. III: Monitoring Changes in Kerala: The First Five Years, Wolf Scott and N.T. Mathew, UNRISD, 1985 — Service d'observation du développement au niveau local, Vol. III: L'observation des changements au Kerala: les cinq premières années, Wolf Scott and N.T. Mathew, UNRISD, 1986 (French translation)
- Measurement and Analysis of Socio-economic Development, Donald McGranahan, Eduardo Pizarro and Claude Richard, UNRISD, 1985