Tanzanian database
We saw that in Section 4.2 that there are both single and composite indicators that are used to gauge the level of economic development. In this section, we will highlight the economic problems that Tanzania faces by using various development indicators. By way of comparison, we will also look at the equivalent indicators for other developed and less developed. At this stage, you may want to have a look through the following data sources to review other development indicators and to build up a picture of the economy of Tanzania.
Two excellent sources of data relating to development in Tanzania are provided by UNICEF and the World Bank. The following websites will give you access to a wide range of health and education indicators and other relevant information.
Pause for thought
- In all cases when using indicators of development take time to reflect upon the appropriateness of the indicators and whether other measures would be better.
- Would it be a good idea to build a broader picture by using a range of indicators? Would a composite indicator be better than a single indicator?
- Are there fundamental weaknesses in using certain statistical measures to make judgments?
- Where does the data come from and how accurate and current do you think it is?