Table 4.4: HDI values in Montenegro, per region
Year Montenegro North Central South Podgorica
2000 0.775 0.714 0.758 0.775 0.802
2001 0.771 0.735 0.753 0.774 0.800
2002 0.775 0.739 0.756 0.778 0.803
2003 0.797 0.760 0.774 0.798 0.825
An analysis of the components of regional HDI indicates that the level of education and per capita incomes are the factors determining the low HDI for the northern region (see Table 4.5). High per capita incomes equate to access to vital nutrition, health and education and strengthen the state’s capacity to collect the taxes needed to support good social programmes. Special economic development, income support efforts and the targeted support of educational opportunities are needed to help the people of the northern region.
Regional disparities in social exclusion
2004 0.804 0.769 0.731 0.806 0.833
2005 0.805 0.769 0.784 0.807 0.835
2006 0.816 0.780 0.795 0.817 0.848
2007 0.828 0.789 0.807 0.828 0.863
The number of socially excluded households and individuals in the northern region is significantly higher than in other regions. In total, 5.9% of households and 10.2% of individuals are socially excluded in the northern region compared to only 1% f households and 7.8% of individuals in the southern region, whilst only 3.2% of households and 9.2% of individuals are socially excluded in the central region (see Graph 4.2). A more detailed analysis of SEI components indicates that households in the northern region have very low incomes and face challenges in accessing health services. In the southern region the biggest barrier to social exclusion is low income, while in the central region families experience more difficulty in paying utility, mortgage or any other bills. Graph 4.2.Social exclusion of households and individuals in Montenegro (by region)
Although Chapter 2 provides a detailed analysis of regional variations in social exclusion in Montenegro and compares regional indices calculated both for households and individuals, it is interesting to examine whether the social inclusion perspective confirms our findings that the northern region is disadvantaged in terms of human development opportunities. In calculating the SEI for households, only those households with low incomes (in poverty), having difficulty meeting utility, mortgage or any other bills, and with insufficient access to health services, are considered as vulnerable/excluded. Individuals are considered as vulnerable/socially excluded if they are unemployed or are employed but social contributions are not paid, have less than 8 years of schooling and are no longer in education, and if they have insufficient access to health services.
The number of multiply-deprived individuals, or those excluded individuals who are unemployed or employed but social contributions are not paid, with less than 8 years of schooling and no longer in education, and with insufficient access to health services is very high in the northern region. About3.3% of multiply-deprived people live in the northern region (see graph 4.3).
Table 4.5. HDI components by the region in Montenegro (2007)
Region
Life expectancy index
Education index
GDP index
North region
0.805
0.889
0.674
Central region (without Podgorica)
0.795
0.911
0.714
South region
0.791
0.904
0.789
Podgorica
0.779
0.966
0.843
Montenegro
0.795
0.920
0.768
National Human Development Report 2009 Montenegro: Society for All
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