International Indices as Tools of Manipulation: A Critical Examination

Abstract

International indices, such as the Human Development Index (HDI), Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI), Doing Business Index, Safety Index, Happiness Index, and others, are pivotal in assessing national performance across economic, social, and political domains, influencing investment, policy, and global perceptions. However, their methodologies are vulnerable to manipulation through subjective criteria, selective data sources, and external political or economic pressures, raising questions about their objectivity and reliability. This article examines the mechanisms enabling such manipulation, including biased weighting, qualitative assessments, and geopolitical influences, using case studies from Georgia’s CPI improvements, the World Bank’s Doing Business scandal involving China and others, and Turkey’s Democracy Index rankings. A regression analysis of the Happiness Index reveals that higher crime rates and antidepressant consumption paradoxically correlate with elevated happiness scores, suggesting methodological inconsistencies. Focusing on Armenia, the study presents original survey research involving 250 respondents (urban and rural, balanced by age and gender) to compare public safety perceptions with Armenia’s high Safety Index ranking (8^th globally, score 77.9, Numbeo 2024). The survey reveals significant discrepancies with the country’s high Safety Index ranking, such as 50% reporting frequent theft and 30% of women feeling unsafe, highlighting methodological flaws in crowd-sourced indices. These findings underscore economic and political implications for small economies like Armenia, where idiocies drive tourism but misalign with realities. Recommendations include enhancing transparency and reforming safety policies. By integrating case studies, survey data, and regression analysis, this study contributes to discourse on index reliability and informs policy for small states.