During the early 2020s, several lower-middle-income countries in Southeast Asia focused heavily on human capital development to drive economic growth. Investment in public services, specifically education and healthcare, has been seen as a critical driver of structural transformation.
Economic development is often measured using composite indicators such as the Human Development Index (HDI), which includes dimensions of health, education, and living standards. Table 1 presents data on two of these key development indicators for selected Southeast Asian countries in 2021.
Table 1: Mean years of schooling and life expectancy in selected Southeast Asian countries (2021)
| Country | Mean years of schooling (years) | Life expectancy at birth (years) |
|---|---|---|
| Myanmar | 5.0 | 65.7 |
| Cambodia | 5.1 | 69.6 |
| Laos | 5.4 | 68.1 |
| Indonesia | 8.6 | 67.6 |
| Vietnam | 8.4 | 73.6 |
| Thailand | 8.7 | 78.7 |
| Malaysia | 10.6 | 74.7 |
Using Table 1, explain the relationship between mean years of schooling and life expectancy.
