Human Security Index for South Asia: Exploring Relevant Issues

This book develops a structured approach to measuring human security across South Asia by proposing a composite index that complements, rather than substitutes, income-based indicators. It reviews theoretical debates—what to measure and why—and translates them into a transparent framework with domains such as personal safety, health, education, environmental risk, livelihood security, and political inclusion. The authors compare data availability and quality across countries, discuss weighting and aggregation choices, and test sensitivity to methodological assumptions. Case chapters demonstrate how an index can surface hidden vulnerabilities, guide resource allocation, and evaluate policy trade-offs, using subnational data where possible. The volume also addresses ethical and operational questions: how to treat missing values, avoid perverse incentives, and communicate uncertainty. By documenting the steps from concept to computation and presenting reproducible examples, the book supplies policymakers and researchers with a practical tool to track progress toward people-centered security and to benchmark reforms within and across countries.