world information
& data resources

site map

	world information resources
	GDP and other quality of life measurements

the world is getting better all the time – basic sources for world data
.... but is it sustainable?

the world is getting better all the time
basic sources for world data

The Heritage Foundation 2003 Index of Economic Freedom
Select country, scores will be accessed.
Then for details, click on highlighted country name.
There are various search options available, including previous years.

Economic Freedom of the World 1975 - 1995 Gwartney, Lawson & Block
(1996, 0889751579)
See here for 2001 edition, with downloads.

Freedom in the World 1995-1996 Kaplan (editor)
(0-932088-86-4, 1996, pbk, Freedom House)
$26.50 [amazon.com] / £20.50 [amazon.co.uk]

Here are links to the on-line version of Freedom in the World:
methodology
country rating surveys (accessible via drop down menus)

Measuring the Changing Condition of the World's Poor: The Physical Quality of Life Index (1960-1990)
Morris, Morris David
(1996, Thomas J Watson Jr Institute For International Studies)
this article can be downloaded from http://www.brown.edu/Departments/Watson_Institute/Publications/OP/CCSD_WP2324.pdf. be warned that it is about 125 A4 pages long, ie big.

Human Development Report 1997 United Nations Development Programme
(pbk, 1997, OUP, 0195119975)
$19.95 [amazon.com] [this issue no longer available from amazon.co.uk]
each year this report has a theme. this 1997 edition contains a useful analysis of the place of the state.

Several of the entries in this section are updated regularly, check with your library or bookshop for the latest edition.

2002 edition available at here. The theme for 2002 is ‘the state of democracy’.
A summary is available at the end of this page,
and data tables are available here.

CIA fact book
general world statistics by country, accessed by drop-down menu.
This site also provides a short Gini list.

United Nations Development Programme/World Bank Gini list
contains large numbers of estimates of varying quality. (This is a zipped excel file.)

Go here for a short explanation of Gini ratings.
In general, the higher the Gini rating, the less equal the wealth distribution; here are examples for some countries.

Here is a short table with basic economic details for many countries (in a PDF file).

Global Competitiveness Report [2005-2006 and 2004-2005]

Competitiveness rankings for 80 countries, produced by the World Economic Forum.
[Data by country for 2002-2003.]

.... but is it sustainable?

World Wildlife Fund report
This report is rather lightweight but may be useful. Further comment here.

new major environmental report (main index)
This is a good, far-ranging and useful report upon the various ecological threats to human comfort, or even to survival.

Here is further discussion on the replacement of fossil fuels. There are also further links.

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