Why is per capita income alone not a sufficient indicator of the quality of life of citizens in a country? Support your answer with one example.
Generated by claude-sonnet-4-6 · 2026-06-26 13:19 · grounding rag
Model Answer
Per capita income is an average that hides inequalities in income distribution and ignores non-income factors like health, education, and security. For example, Haryana has a higher per capita income than Kerala, yet Kerala has a far lower Infant Mortality Rate (6 vs. 28 per 1,000 live births) and a higher literacy rate (94% vs. 82%), indicating a better quality of life.
Source: Development, Tables 1.3 and 1.4
---
Explanation
- Examiners expect you to state the limitation (averages hide distribution; non-income factors matter) and then give a specific example — the Haryana vs. Kerala comparison from the textbook is the standard one to use.
- Quote at least one statistic (IMR or literacy rate) to make the example concrete; vague examples lose marks.
- Do not write about HDI or UNDP here — the question is only about per capita income's limitation, so keep focus tight.