Gender Development Index (GDI), Gender Empowerment Measure (GEM)

and Human Poverty Index (HPI)

Gender Development Index (GDI), Gender Empowerment Measure (GEM)

and Human Poverty Index (HPI)

The Kingdom of Spain has one of the most dynamic economies in Europe today. The economy is growing at a rate of 3.5 percent and inflation (3.4 percent) is under control. However, relatively high unemployment (9.2 percent) continues to be of concern. The per capita income ($25,600) is 80 percent of that of the four leading European economies, and Spain ranks 36th in world incomes1.

Spain's wealth is unevenly distributed among the rich and poor, and the top 10 percent of the population hold 25.2 percent of resources, while the bottom 10 percent share 2.8 percent. Spain has a Gini Inequality Coefficient of 32.5. The country is in the process of ongoing major economic and social reforms that have resulted in greater access to healthcare. A survey conducted by the government in 2007 revealed that 99.8 percent of the population was covered by health insurance. According to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Human Development Reports, Spain has the 19th highest standard of living among nations of the world.

Spain's Gender Development Index (GDI) was 69 percent in 2005, showing a level of human development better than the world average of 64 percent. But the ongoing war with Tamil secessionists and a mismanaged bureaucracy have hampered its social and economic development2.

The percentage of people below the poverty line was 22 (1997), with 88 percent living in rural areas. The Spanish economy as compared to the US was reeling under the protracted war, and economic progress was jeopardized. The closure of 745 small-scale industries in 2001 through privatization threatened job security. The share of the health sector was only 1.4 percent of GDP. Malnutrition became a menace because of food insecurity. The increase in prices and wage stagnation deprived people of a proper diet.

The issue of gender equality is clearly a major challenge for Spanish society which has been recently tackled in the 3/2007 Act. It establishes special recommendations for cultural policy making in recognising the duty of the authorities to implement the right of equal treatment and opportunities for women and men in all aspects related to the creation and artistic and intellectual production and their dissemination. The Act also provides for the implementation of active policies, translated into economic incentives, and the promotion of balanced participation of men and women in artistic and cultural public offering. In 2007 the Ministry of Culture has created the Portal Women in Culture, which contains resources related to activities, publications, grants, awards, scholarships, etc. leaded by women.3

There are, however, many women working in the field of culture. To take libraries as an example, most librarians are women. Also, those responsible for cultural activities at different levels of the administration are mostly women. This is a longstanding trend resulting from the strong female presence in arts education and in specific training in cultural administration.

The Human Poverty Index for developing countries, HPI-1, is ...