The Measure of America, 2010-2011 : : Mapping Risks and Resilience / / Sarah Burd-Sharps, Kristen Lewis.

• Superior document: Title is part of eBook package: De Gruyter New York University Press Backlist eBook-Package 2000-2013
• VerfasserIn: Lewis, Kristen,; Burd-Sharps, Sarah,
• MitwirkendeR: Sachs, Jeffrey D.,
• TeilnehmendeR: Sachs, Jeffrey.
• Place / Publishing House: New York, NY : : New York University Press, , [2010]; ©2010
• Year of Publication: 2010
• Language: English
• Series: Social Science Research Council ; 9
• Physical Description: 1 online resource :; 130 Illustrations, color

The Measure of America, 2010-2011, is the definitive report on the overall well-being of all Americans. How are Americans doing-compared to one another and compared to the rest of the world? This important, easy-to-understand guide will provide all of the essential information on the current state of America.This fully illustrated report, with over 130 color images, is based on the groundbreaking American Human Development Index, which provides a single measure of the well-being for all Americans, disaggregated by state and congressional district, as well as by race, gender, and ethnicity. The Index rankings of the 50 states and 435 congressional districts reveal huge disparities in the health, education, and living standards of different groups. For example, overall, Connecticut ranked first among states on the 2008-2009 Index, and Mississippi ranked last, suggesting that there is a 30-year gap in human development between the two states. Further, among congressional districts, New York’s 14th District, in Manhattan, ranked first, and California’s 20th District, near Fresno, ranked last. The average resident of New York’s 14th District earned over three times as much as the average resident of California’s 20th District, lived over four years longer, and was ten times as likely to have a college degree.The second in the American Human Development Report series, the 2010-2011 edition features a completely updated Index, new findings on the well-being of different racial and ethnic groups from state to state, and a closer look at disparities within major metro areas. It also shines a spotlight on threats to progress and opportunity for some Americans as well as highlighting tested approaches to fosteringresilience among different groups.Using a revelatory framework for explaining the very nature of humanprogress, this report can be used not only as a way to measure America but also to build upon past policy successes, protect the progress made over the last half century from new risks, and create an infrastructure of opportunity that can serve a new generation of Americans. Beautifully illustrated with stunning four-color graphics that allow for a quick visual understanding of often complex but important issues, The Measure of America is essential reading for all Americans, especially for social scientists, policy makers, and pundits who want to understand where Americans stand today.

Table of Contents

Frontmatter -- Contents -- Foreword -- Acknowledgments -- Key Findings -- INTRODUCTION. Human Development in America Today -- Introduction -- Part I: Understanding Human Development -- Measuring Human Development -- Part II: Reducing Risks, Increasing Resilience -- Safeguarding the Capabilities We Have -- Overcoming Barriers to Access -- Conclusion -- Dashboard of Risks -- CHAPTER 1. What the American Human Development Index Reveals -- Introduction -- Historical Trends: A Half Century of Development Progress -- Presenting American Human Development Index Scores -- Conclusion -- CHAPTER 2. A Long and Healthy Life -- Introduction -- Part I: What the Health Index Reveals -- Analysis by State, Congressional District, Gender, Race, and Ethnicity -- What Fuels These Gaps? -- PART II: Reducing Risks and Increasing Resilience in Health -- Risks Facing Men -- Risks Facing People with Low Socioeconomic Status -- Risks Facing People with Persistent and Severe Mental Illness -- Risks Facing African Americans -- Risks Facing Native Americans -- Increasing Resilience in Health: What Will It Take? -- CHAPTER 3. Access to Knowledge -- Introduction -- Part I: What the Education Index Reveals -- Analysis by State, Congressional District, Gender, Race, and Ethnicity -- What Fuels These Gaps? -- Part II: Reducing Risks and Increasing Resilience in Access to Knowledge -- Preschool Education: Getting It Right from the Start -- Success in High School: The Bare Minimum -- College: Enrollment, Persistence, and Success -- Increasing Resilience in Access to Knowledge: What Will It Take? -- CHAPTER 4. A Decent Standard of Living -- Introduction -- Part I: What the Income Index Reveals -- Analysis by State, Congressional District, Gender, Race, and Ethnicity -- What Fuels These Gaps? -- Reducing Risks for Children and Adolescents -- Working Years and Family Balance: Getting a Strong Foothold in the Job Market and Investing in the Future -- Retirement Security: Freedom and Choices in the Golden Years -- Increasing Resilience in Standard of Living: What Will It Take? -- CONCLUSION. Agenda for Action: Reducing Risks, Building Resilience -- Human Development Indicators -- AMERICAN HUMAN DEVELOPMENT INDEX -- U.S. INDICATOR TABLES -- OECD INDICATOR TABLES -- References -- Methodological Notes -- Notes -- Bibliography -- Index to Indicators -- Maps At-A-Glance -- A Day in the Life -- WHO ARE WE?