An attempt to measure the quality of life or well-being of a country. The numerical value is derived from the adult literacy rate, infant mortality rate, and life expectancy at age 1, all equally weighted. It is one of a number of measures created because of dissatisfaction with the use of GNP as an indicator of development. However, Rodrik and Brodsky DOI:10.1016/0305-750X(81)90071-1 suggest problems with this indicator.