{
  "title": "Classifications of Countries BasedOn their Level of Development: How it is Done and How it Could Be Done",
  "publication": "IMF Working Papers, February 1, 2011",
  "sourceUrl": "https://www.imf.org/en/publications/wp/issues/2016/12/31/classifications-of-countries-basedon-their-level-of-development-how-it-is-done-and-how-it-24628",
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  "summary": "The paper analyzes how the UNDP, the World Bank, and the IMF classify countries based on their level of development. These systems are found lacking in clarity with regard to their underlying rationale.",
  "sections": [
    {
      "heading": "Overview",
      "content": "- The paper analyzes how the UNDP, the World Bank, and the IMF classify countries based on their level of development.\n- Existing classification systems are found lacking in clarity with regard to their underlying rationale.\n- The paper argues that a country classification system based on a transparent, data-driven methodology is preferable to one based on judgment or ad hoc rules.\n- An alternative methodology is developed and used to construct classification systems using a variety of proxies for development attainment."
    },
    {
      "heading": "Main findings and argument",
      "content": "- Current systems used by UNDP, the World Bank, and the IMF lack clear articulation of their underlying rationale.\n- A transparent, data-driven country classification system is argued to be preferable to systems based on judgment or ad hoc rules.\n- The paper develops and applies an alternative methodology to construct classification systems using multiple proxies for development attainment."
    },
    {
      "heading": "Methodology developed",
      "content": "- The paper develops a transparent, data-driven methodology for classifying countries by level of development.\n- The methodology is applied to construct classification systems using a variety of proxies for development attainment.\n- Emphasis is placed on replacing judgmental or ad hoc rule-based classifications with empirically grounded procedures."
    },
    {
      "heading": "Policy implications and recommendations",
      "content": "- Move from judgment-based or ad hoc rule-based classification systems toward transparent, data-driven classification systems.\n- Use a variety of development proxies when constructing country classification systems to capture multiple dimensions of development attainment."
    },
    {
      "heading": "Subjects and keywords",
      "content": "- Subject: Banking, International organization, Personal income, Poverty, Purchasing power parity\n- Keywords: balance of payments, country classification system, development country, WP\n\nContent derived from \"Classifications of Countries BasedOn their Level of Development: How it is Done and How it Could Be Done\", IMF Working Papers, February 1, 2011.\n\n---\n\n Content in this bundle\n\n- 1. The World Bank's Operational Income Thresholds\n  - 1. The World Bank's Operational Income Thresholds (Markdown version){rel=\"alternate\" type=\"text/markdown\"}\n  - 1. The World Bank's Operational Income Thresholds (PDF){rel=\"external\" type=\"application/pdf\"}\n\n---\n\nSource: https://www.imf.org/en/publications/wp/issues/2016/12/31/classifications-of-countries-basedon-their-level-of-development-how-it-is-done-and-how-it-24628"
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    "Authors: Lynge Nielsen",
    "Published: February 1, 2011",
    "Series: IMF Working Papers",
    "DOI: https://doi.org/10.5089/9781455216789.001",
    "The paper analyzes how the UNDP, the World Bank, and the IMF classify countries based on their level of development.",
    "Existing classification systems are found lacking in clarity with regard to their underlying rationale.",
    "The paper argues that a country classification system based on a transparent, data-driven methodology is preferable to one based on judgment or ad hoc rules.",
    "An alternative methodology is developed and used to construct classification systems using a variety of proxies for development attainment.",
    "Current systems used by UNDP, the World Bank, and the IMF lack clear articulation of their underlying rationale.",
    "A transparent, data-driven country classification system is argued to be preferable to systems based on judgment or ad hoc rules.",
    "The paper develops and applies an alternative methodology to construct classification systems using multiple proxies for development attainment.",
    "The paper develops a transparent, data-driven methodology for classifying countries by level of development.",
    "The methodology is applied to construct classification systems using a variety of proxies for development attainment.",
    "Emphasis is placed on replacing judgmental or ad hoc rule-based classifications with empirically grounded procedures.",
    "Move from judgment-based or ad hoc rule-based classification systems toward transparent, data-driven classification systems.",
    "Use a variety of development proxies when constructing country classification systems to capture multiple dimensions of development attainment.",
    "Subject: Banking, International organization, Personal income, Poverty, Purchasing power parity",
    "Keywords: balance of payments, country classification system, development country, WP",
    "**1. The World Bank's Operational Income Thresholds**"
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