GDP Is Not The Whole Story

A happy and successful life is measured not only by money. That's the thesis of the American Human Development Project; it does make a great degree of sense. Two years ago the project released a study comparing the U.S. with other countries as measured by their level of human development, which in the project's view is a function of one's health, education and income. Now they've released a study comparing the development of various racial and ethnic groups by state.

Would you be surprised to learn that Asian-Americans score highest on the overall index as well as the three sub-indices - health, education and income? The group with the lowest overall index is Native-Americans, who are also lowest in income. African-Americans have the lowest life expectancy and Latinos the lowest education index.

Results do vary by state. An African-American in New Jersey is far better off than one in Louisiana; she'll live longer, be better educated and make more money. New Jersey seems to be a good state for minorities. Latinos and Asian-Americans are much better off there than any other state. If you're a Native-American, I hope you live in California rather than South Dakota. The worst place a white person can live is West Virginia, the best is Washington, D.C.