Read the following information and answer the questions that follow:
A study comparing two neighbouring countries — Country P and Country Q — reveals the following data:
| Indicator | Country P | Country Q |
|---|---|---|
| Per Capita Income (US$) | 12,000 | 7,500 |
| Life Expectancy (years) | 62 | 74 |
| Literacy Rate (%) | 68 | 91 |
| Infant Mortality Rate (per 1000) | 45 | 9 |
Country P has higher per capita income but allocates very little to public health and education. Country Q, despite lower income, has a well-functioning public distribution system and wide availability of government schools and hospitals.
(i) Which country appears more developed when only per capita income is considered? (1 mark)
(ii) Which country is likely to have a higher Human Development Index (HDI) rank and why? (1 mark)
(iii) What does the data on Country Q suggest about the role of public facilities in human development? (2 marks)
Generated by claude-sonnet-4-6 · 2026-06-26 13:21 · grounding rag
Model Answer
(i) Country P appears more developed when only per capita income is considered, as its per capita income (US$ 12,000) is higher than that of Country Q (US$ 7,500).
(ii) Country Q is likely to have a higher HDI rank because HDI considers life expectancy, literacy rate, and income together. Country Q has far better life expectancy (74 years), literacy rate (91%), and infant mortality rate (9 per 1000) — all indicators of higher human development.
(iii) Country Q's data shows that public facilities like government schools, hospitals, and a public distribution system play a crucial role in human development. Despite lower income, Country Q achieves better health and education outcomes, proving that equitable access to public services can compensate for lower per capita income in improving people's well-being.
Source: Chapter 1 — Development; Income and Other Criteria; Human Development Report
---
Explanation
- Part (i) is straightforward — pick the country with higher per capita income.
- Part (ii) requires linking HDI's three components (income, health, education) to the table data. Examiners want you to name the indicators explicitly.
- Part (iii) is the 2-mark analytical part — connect Country Q's better social indicators to its investment in public facilities. The Kerala–Haryana example from the textbook is the direct parallel here; use that logic.
- Avoid writing vague statements. Be specific: name the indicators and their values.