STATE OF SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA BEYOND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

The paper examines the state of development in countries of Sub-Saharan Africa measured by Human Development Index. This index combines economic and social indicators and can therefore offer deeper insight into the standard of living in this developing region. The paper focuses on the impact of mineral dependency, previous colonial power and political situation on Human Development Index, as these variables differ significantly in Sub-Saharan Africa. The paper covers 48 countries and studies the relations between variables using regression analysis. The results suggest positive impact of higher level of democracy measured by different indices. Despite theoretical background, dependency on exports of mineral resources also has positive impact on Human Development Index in the region.