Physical Quality Life Index (PQLI): Measures, Calculation, Categories

The Physical Quality of Life Index (PQLI) is a measure developed in the 1970s by sociologist Morris David Morris as an alternative to purely economic indicators like GDP for assessing the quality of life or well-being in different countries. The PQLI focuses on physical quality of life, emphasizing social indicators that reflect the well-being of a population. It is particularly useful for comparing the development of countries, especially in the context of social progress.

1. Physical Quality Life Index PQLI

2. Introduction The PQLI was developed in the 1970s by Morris David Morris, an economist. It was created as a response to the limitations of using purely economic indicators like Gross Domestic Product (GDP) to measure development and well-being.

3. Purpose : The aim was to provide a more comprehensive measure of the quality of life in a country, focusing on basic physical needs rather than economic performance. It sought to highlight aspects of development that directly impact the well-being of individuals.

4. Measuring the Physical Quality of Life Index (PQLI) The PQLI is based on three indicators, each representing a fundamental aspect of physical well-being: 1.Life Expectancy at Age One : Measures the average number of years a person can expect to live after reaching the age of one. This indicator reflects the overall health conditions and medical care in a country.

5. 2.Infant Mortality Rate : Measures the number of deaths of infants under one year of age per 1,000 live births. A lower infant mortality rate indicates better healthcare services and living conditions.

6. 3.Basic Literacy Rate : Measures the percentage of people aged 15 and above who can read and write. This reflects the educational attainment and accessibility of education in a country.

7. Calculating the PQLI Standardizing Indicators : Each of the three indicators is converted into a scale from 0 to 100. For life expectancy, a score of 100 is assigned to a life expectancy of 85 years and 0 to a life expectancy of 35 years. For infant mortality, a score of 0 is assigned to an infant mortality rate of 200 per 1,000 live births, and 100 to an infant mortality rate of 0. For literacy, a score of 100 is assigned to a 100% literacy rate and 0 to a 0% literacy rate.

8. Continue.. Averaging Scores : The three standardized scores are then averaged to produce the overall PQLI score.  

9. Categories of the Physical Quality of Life Index (PQLI) While the PQLI does not have strict categories like the Human Development Index (HDI), the scores can be interpreted as follows: High Physical Quality of Life: PQLI Scores Close to 100 indicates a high quality of life with good health, low infant mortality, and high literacy rates. Medium Physical Quality of Life : PQLI scores in the middle range suggest moderate quality of life, with room for improvement in health, infant mortality, and literacy. Low Physical Quality of Life : PQLI scores closer to 0 indicate poor quality of life, with high infant mortality rates, low life expectancy, and low literacy rates.

10. Comparison with HDI The PQLI focuses on basic physical needs, making it simpler and more focused on tangible outcomes than the HDI. The HDI includes economic dimensions and a broader educational measure, making it a more comprehensive index for overall development. Both indices aim to provide a more human- centered view of development compared to purely economic measures like GDP.