Incidence of socioeconomic factors on the development of rural communities in Ecuador
Abstract
Human development reflects the population’s well-being, measured through access to health, education, and food. In Latin America, particularly in Ecuador, this progress has not been equitable, especially in rural areas where deep social and economic inequalities persist. This research aims to analyze the incidence of socioeconomic factors on the Human Development Index (HDI) in rural communities of Ecuador during the period 2000–2024. An integrated approach was used, combining quantitative methods to measure the effect of the selected variables on the HDI and qualitative methods to understand the social context. The research adopted a non-experimental design with both descriptive and explanatory scopes. The results revealed that GDP per capita has a statistically significant and positive impact on the HDI, showing that increasing household income improves quality of life. However, variables such as health investment and external debt did not show significant effects, which highlights an unequal distribution of public spending and limited coverage in rural zones. It is concluded that Ecuador’s rural sector still requires stronger state intervention through public policies aimed at strengthening human capital, ensuring basic rights, and contributing to fairer and more sustained development.
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