9781422283936

I NTRODUCTION S OCIAL P ROGRESS IN N ORTH A MERICA

N orth America is a vast region that stretches from the steamy jungles of the tropics to the permafrost wilderness of the Arctic Circle. This book explores the level of social progress in the three countries of North America: Canada, the United States, and Mexico. Social progress is a society’s ability to meet the basic human needs of its citizens, create the building blocks that individuals and communities use to improve the quality of their lives, and make it possible for everyone to reach their potential. The book examines bare necessities, such as people’s access to food, water, shelter, and basic medical care; it also considers whether people are safe, receive education, and enjoy personal freedom. It considers as well the political and natural environment. To understand how social progress differs from one country to another, the Social Progress Imperative scored 133 countries around the world in three main areas: Basic Human Needs: Does a country provide for its people’s most essential needs? Foundations of Well-being: Are the building blocks in place for individuals and communities to enhance and sustain well-being? Opportunity: Is there opportunity for all individuals to reach their full potential?

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S OCIAL P ROGRESS IN N ORTH A MERICA