Social Progress Index (SPI)

An Social Progress Index (SPI) is a social well-being measure published by Social Progress Imperative organization to evaluate social progress dimensions across nations.

• AKA: Social Progress Index.
• Context:
  • It can typically measure SPI Social Progress through SPI social dimension assessment.
  • It can typically evaluate SPI Basic Human Need through SPI basic human need indicators.
  • It can typically assess SPI Foundation of Wellbeing through SPI foundation of wellbeing indicators.
  • It can typically analyze SPI Opportunity through SPI opportunity indicators.
  • It can typically quantify SPI Social Progress Performance across nations using SPI indicator methodology.
  • ...
  • It can often benchmark SPI National Progress against SPI global standards.
  • It can often identify SPI National Strength and SPI national weakness for SPI policy formulation.
  • It can often inform SPI Policy Decision through SPI evidence-based insights.
  • It can often drive SPI Social Change through SPI performance measurement.
  • ...
  • It can range from being a Country-Level SPI Social Progress Index to being a Regional SPI Social Progress Index, depending on its SPI geographical scope.
  • It can range from being a Basic SPI Social Progress Index to being a Comprehensive SPI Social Progress Index, depending on its SPI indicator inclusion.
  • ...
  • It can incorporate SPI Security from Violence Measure for SPI personal safety assessment.
  • It can include SPI Ecosystem Sustainability Measure for SPI environmental health assessment.
  • It can integrate SPI Human Health Measure for SPI physical wellbeing assessment.
  • It can utilize SPI Security of Shelter Measure for SPI housing adequacy assessment.
  • It can employ SPI Security of Sanitation Measure for SPI hygiene infrastructure assessment.
  • It can evaluate SPI Equity Measure for SPI inclusion assessment.
  • It can measure SPI Personal Freedom Measure for SPI choice assessment.
  • ...
• Examples:
  • SPI Social Progress Index Publications, such as:
    • Annual SPI Social Progress Index Reports, such as:
      • 2014 SPI Social Progress Index Report focusing on SPI social and environmental outcomes across nations.
      • 2015 SPI Social Progress Index Report expanding SPI methodological approach.
      • 2020 SPI Social Progress Index Report incorporating SPI pandemic impact assessment.
      • 2023 SPI Social Progress Index Report featuring SPI climate resilience indicators.
    • Regional SPI Social Progress Index Reports, such as:
      • EU SPI Social Progress Index Report assessing SPI social progress across European regions.
      • Amazon SPI Social Progress Index Report examining SPI environmental sustainability in the Amazon basin.
  • SPI Social Progress Index Implementations, such as:
    • National SPI Social Progress Index Implementations, such as:
      • Finland SPI Social Progress Index Implementation demonstrating SPI high performance in SPI education indicators.
      • Costa Rica SPI Social Progress Index Implementation showcasing SPI environmental stewardship despite SPI economic constraints.
    • Municipal SPI Social Progress Index Implementations, such as:
      • Rio de Janeiro SPI Social Progress Index Implementation addressing SPI urban inequality.
      • Bogotá SPI Social Progress Index Implementation focusing on SPI public safety improvement.
  • ...
• Counter-Examples:
  • EIU Quality-of-Life Index, which focuses primarily on economic factors rather than SPI social and environmental outcomes.
  • UNDP Human Development Index, which emphasizes human development dimensions without the SPI comprehensive social framework.
  • GDP Economic Measure, which measures economic output but not SPI social progress dimensions.
  • National Technological Advancement Measure, which tracks technological capability rather than SPI social wellbeing.
• See: Social Progress, Wellbeing Measurement Framework, National Development Index, Social Indicator System.

---

---

References

2014

• (Wikipedia, 2014) ⇒ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_Social_Progress_Index Retrieved:2014-4-6.
  • The Social Progress Index measures the extent to which countries provide for the social and environmental needs of their citizens. Fifty-two indicators in the areas of basic human needs, foundations of wellbeing, and opportunity show the relative performance of nations. The index is published by the nonprofit Social Progress Imperative, and is based on the writings of Amartya Sen, Douglass North, and Joseph Stiglitz. The SPI measures the well-being of a society by observing social and environmental outcomes directly rather than the economic factors. The social and environmental factors include personal safety, ecosystem sustainability, health and wellness, shelter, sanitation, equity and inclusion and personal freedom and choice.

• http://www.socialprogressimperative.org/data/spi
  • … To truly advance social progress, we must learn to measure it, comprehensively and rigorously. The Social Progress Index offers a rich framework for measuring the multiple dimensions of social progress, benchmarking success, and catalyzing greater human wellbeing. The 2014 version of the Social Progress Index has improved upon the 2013 ‘beta’ version through generous feedback from many observers. We continue to welcome your use and testing of our data, and feedback to help us continue to improve.

---