In 2008, the United Nations ranked Canada fourth on the Human Development Index (HDI)-- a ranking of the "quality of life" in many countries. Yet in that year, Canada ranked only tenth in terms of real per capita GDP. The problem with the HDI is the calculation of the various measures.

The main problem is not the validity of the factors but the method of measurement that will yield reliable information. GDP offers the most convenient and reliable calculation compared to the HDI elements. Well-being can be measured directly in a variety of ways. Students often suggest these: Health care Security Freedom of choice Food Education These are certainly better measures than money income, but they can be difficult to collect and interpret. While per capita GDP does not directly measure well-being like the HDI elements do, in what ways do these direct measures list above still correlate with (or relate to) per capita GDP?