Resumo

RODRIGUEZ-MARTIN, José Antonio. Proposition of a wellbeing index in the least advanced countries (LAC) of Africa. Econ. soc. territ [online]. 2011, vol.11, n.35, pp.19-40. ISSN 2448-6183.

In this article we present a new measurement proposal applied to a group of countries specially affected by poverty (Least Advanced Countries, LAC), limited by a territory which gives them homogeneity, such as Africa. Our index was constructed paying attention to a larger number of variables than the most used wellbeing indexes, and according to the criteria defined in the objectives of the Millennium Declaration. To sum up, the objective is to produce a global indicator of the fulfillment of these goals; in views of this, we use the P₂ distance method for the year 2006, which is the most recent year we found with definite data. This index integrates socioeconomic variables that allow a territorial ordering of LAC in Africa in function of these partial indicators.

Palavras-chave : synthetic indicators; territorial disparities; wellbeing; least advanced countries; African economies; P₂ distance measure.