As successive Human Development Reports have shown, most people in most countries have been doing steadily better in human development. Advances in technology, education and incomes hold ever-greater promise for longer, healthier, more secure lives.
Globalization has on balance produced major human development gains, especially in many countries of
the South. But there is also a widespread sense of precariousness in the world today—in livelihoods, in personal security, in the environment and in global politics.
High achievements on critical aspects of human development, such as health and nutrition, can quickly be undermined by a natural disaster or economic slump.
Theft and assault can leave people physically and psychologically impoverished. Corruption and unresponsive state institutions can leave those in need of assistance without recourse.
Political threats, community tensions, violent conflict, neglect of public health, environmental damages, crime and discrimination all add to individual and community vulnerability.
Real progress on human development, then, is not only a matter of enlarging people’s critical choices and their ability to be educated, be healthy, have a reasonable standard of living and feel safe. It is also a matter of how secure these achievements are and whether conditions are sufficient for sustained human development.
An account of progress in human development is incomplete without exploring and assessing vulnerability.
Traditionally, the concept of vulnerability is used to describe exposure to risk and risk management,
including insuring against shocks and diversifying assets and income.

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