xainxg Saroj

Known for its snowcapped peaks, national parks, hiking trails, skiing, and beyond, Colorado is, without a doubt, one of the coolest states to visit in the USA.

If you’re looking for some new Colorado vacation spots to add to your itinerary, this Colorado bucket list is for you.

Here are the coolest places in Colorado to visit!

Colorado is home to four stunning national parks to visit–and despite the Centennial State’s reputation for its incredible Rocky Mountain landscapes, each park is incredibly unique and well worth a visit!

Welcoming more than 3 million visitors each year, Rocky Mountain National Park is not only the state’s most popular national park, it’s easily one of the top places to visit in Colorado as a whole!

From snowcapped mountains to alpine lakes, and from challenging hikes to relaxing scenic drives, Rocky Mountain National Park has options for all kinds of travelers–the only thing you truly need to justify a visit is an appreciation for alpine beauty.

Some of the most popular things to do in RMNP include visiting Bear Lake, hiking to Emerald Lake and Dream Lake, driving the beautiful Trail Ridge Road, and checking out Old Fall River Road (either by car or by foot depending on the season).

If you’re visiting in winter, don’t worry, much of the park is still accessible–just be prepared to lace up your cross country skis to visit some of the most popular lakes!

From Megan of Red Around the World

Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park is an often-overlooked national park in Gunnison, Colorado–but if you add it to your list of beautiful places in Colorado to visit, there’s no doubt that you’ll be blown away.

It is one of the deepest canyons in North America at 8,043 feet deep.  It’s hard to imagine that, even when you’re there looking at it.  It’s easiest to visit the South Rim just outside of Gunnison which is also where you can access the river at the bottom of the canyon.

There is also access to the North Rim which is perfect if you want to get away from the already meager crowds.

Keep in mind that though the two rims look close to each other on a map, they’re a couple hours worth of driving apart.

While the park isn’t bursting with hiking trails, there are quite a few to choose from and just as many amazing viewpoints to stop at.

Keep your eyes peeled for bears while you’re exploring the park.

Even if you just have a couple of hours, it’s totally worth visiting.  Most of the trails are short, under three miles round-trip.

The Oak Flat Loop Trail is great for people looking to hike below the rim but not all the way to the river.  It’s two miles round-trip and can be narrow in some places, so be careful.

Also make sure to drive down to the river, even if just for the experience.

From James of Parks Collecting

Mesa Verde National Park is home to 600 cliff dwellings.

The Ancient Puebloans built their villages in overhangs in the side of steep cliffs and climbed down from above, using hand and footholds carved directly into the cliff.

Today, you can see many of them from overlooks at the top of the mesa and see some of them up close on guided tours.  Bear in mind that you need to climb down ladders or steep steps to visit them.

The cliff dwellings are truly incredible to see.  Highlights include Cliff Palace (the largest), Long House, and Balcony House (where you need to crawl through a very narrow tunnel to exit).

Each year, some of the other dwellings are also opened up to small group visits, with a ranger as a guide.  You need to hike to these, and often climb down the original hand and footholds (with the help of modern-day chains to make it safer).

Whether you see the cliff dwellings from overlooks, on a guided tour, or a small group back-country hike, you are sure to be fascinated by them.

From Rai of A Rai of Light

Great Sand Dunes National Park, found in the Saguache and Alamosa Counties of southern Colorado, encompasses more than 100,000 acres of open-air adventure.

The fascination not only lies with the tallest sand dunes in North America, but also the surrounding landscape that features forests, snow-capped mountains, and rivers.

There is so much to do that 3 days is the minimum number of days to spend in and around the surrounding area. Top sights in the preserve include High Dune, Zapata Falls, Medano Pass.

Sandboarding is a popular activity and should not be missed. Other activities worth trying include sledding, horseback riding, and hiking to catch a beautiful sunrise.

The park is always open and no reservations are required. However, the best time to visit is during spring and fall.

The closest town is Mosca, but the park is easily reached from any major city as the San Luis Valley Airport is a mere 45-minute drive from the park’s entrance.

Known as the gateway to Rocky Mountain National Park, the charming small town of Estes Park easily ranks among the best places to visit in Colorado.

With its beautiful downtown (don’t miss a chance to stroll along the riverwalk!), its huge prevalance of elk living in and around the town, its beautiful lake, and the world-class nature of nearby hiking opportunities, Estes Park belongs on any Colorado bucket list.

While in Estes Park, be sure to stop by the historic Park Theatre, consider a whitewater rafting trip, go for a scenic drive, check out one of the town’s breweries, and pay a visit to the beautiful Stanley Hotel, which inspired Stephen King’s The Shining.

Even if you don’t check in, the hotel is still worth a peak!

And, of course, the main attraction lies just outside of town: no trip to Estes Park is complete without plenty of time spent in Rocky Mountain National Park!

From Martina + Jurgen of PlacesofJuma

Crested Butte in the Rocky Mountains is probably one of the most recommended places to visit in Colorado.

It is famous as a ski resort and is also considered to be the capital of wildflowers, making Crested Butte a fantastic year-round travel destination in Colorado.

In winter, the challenging ski slopes attract the best skiers and snowboarders. The cross-country ski trails, which are located around the city, add a special beauty to the unique landscape.

In the warm months, mountain bikers and hikers come to experience the unique nature of the region and the splendor of the flowers.

But not only is the surrounding nature gorgeous, but the town is also pretty too!

Crested Butte is an extremely pedestrian-friendly town, and walking around, you will discover picturesque historical buildings, great restaurants, and plenty of mountain views.

We also recommend a visit in July, when the famous Crested Butte Wildflower Festival takes place.

Colorado’s capital city is arguably one of the trendiest and fastest-growing cities in the country–and given that Denver offers a fantastic array of things to do while also being located within proximity of epic mountain hikes, it’s no surprise.

Known for its breweries, parks, and proximity to Rocky Mountain National Park as well as popular mountain towns like Boulder and Estes Park, Denver makes a fantastic weekend getaway destination.

While you’re in Denver, consider catching a game at Coor’s Field, seeing a show at the iconic Red Rocks Amphitheatre, strolling down the 16th Street Mall, stopping by Larimer Square, and–of course–hitting up a few of those popular breweries.

If you’re looking to add some museum-hopping to your Denver itinerary, the city also has you covered, from classics like the Denver Art Museum to more unique options like the Wings Over the Rockies Air & Space Museum.

From Liz of Peanuts or Pretzels

Steamboat Springs might be a popular ski town in Colorado and home to many former Olympians, but a visit here can feel less like your typical Colorado ski resort vacation and more like an adventure.

This is a town with a vibrant local community, humorous traditions, and lively Western history.

A four-season destination, there’s plenty of things to do year-round in Steamboat. But for many, winter is the most magical time.

Winter sports are everywhere, not just the main ski resort.

The locals even have their own hill in the center of town and during the Winter Carnival each February, the town comes alive with ski contests (complete with light-up costumes and fireworks), outdoor concerts, sculptures, and parades where horses pull thrill-seekers on skis over jumps right through the middle of town!

After all of that winter fun, take a soothing dip in one of the hot springs around town, such as Strawberry Hot Springs, a local favorite for its natural scenery tucked back in a canyon.

From Karen of Outdoor Adventure Sampler

Consistently ranked among the best places to visit in Colorado, Breckenridge is a charming town in the heart of the Rockies with non-stop activities and scenic beauty.

Visit the craft breweries and fabulous restaurants in this town surrounded by mountain peaks. Breckenridge chefs feature local farm-to-table ingredients. In Breckenridge’s historic district you can learn the story of this old mining town.

Breckenridge is famous for its world-class cross country and alpine skiing, making it one of the most classic Colorado vacation spots. The Breckenridge ski resort boasts 5 mountains and 187 trails.

In the summer you will find wildflowers as you hike into an alpine meadow or a cascading waterfall. In fall, the blazing colors of the aspens are spectacular.

Breckenridge is an outdoor enthusiast’s mecca. Rafting, ziplining, fly fishing, and biking are a few of the outdoor adventures to try. Hikers will love the hundreds of nearby trails.

Don’t miss a chance to take the free gondola ride up into the mountains. It’s not unusual to see moose or a bald eagle from your vantage point high above the meadows.

From Mark of Summer Camp Hub

Glenwood Springs is a city right by the Rocky Mountains famous for the array of hot springs in the area. It’s renowned as an excellent Colorado vacation spot for just about everyone, including families and would-be adventurers.

If you’re looking to soak in hot springs, you need to visit Iron Mountain Hot Springs. There are 16 hot springs you can enjoy while getting a scenic view of the Rocky Mountains.

If you’re looking to go hiking, then the Glenwood Canyon is readily available with hikes like the Grizzly Creek and the Hanging Lake.

There are also plenty of other outdoor thrilling activities you can do like paragliding and rafting.

If you’re visiting as a family, there are plenty of outdoor kid-friendly activities children can participate in.

With such a huge opportunity for children to receive an outdoor education, it’s no surprise that there are numerous summer camps in the state and city.

Apart from outdoor adventures to partake in, be sure to visit the famous comedy shows that go on at the Glenwood Vaudeville Revue.

From Melissa of Navigation Junkie

Manitou Springs is a historic city located just outside of Colorado Springs with roots tracing back to the Pikes Peak gold rush.

It is the perfect Colorado bucket list destination for some small-town charm, natural beauty, culture, and fun!

A visit to Manitou Springs would not be complete without taking a self-guided walking tour of the springs. There are eight springs in total along a 1.4-mile trail through town, each with its own unique mineral content.

The Manitou Cliff Dwellings, authentic relocated Pueblos, is another must-visit spot in Manitou Springs.

For some more hiking, climb the Incline near Pikes Peak for some stunning views, or if you prefer not to hike, drive the Pikes Peak Highway to the summit.

After a long day of exploring, find plenty of food and bar options in downtown Manitou Springs.

If traveling with kids, be sure to check out the world-famous Penny Arcade for games, kiddie rides, and prizes! And finally stop in at Pike’s Peak Ice Cream for some tasty treats and ice cream!

From Daria of The Discovery Nut

Telluride is a small but mighty town with colorful mining history and unparalleled landscapes that draw visitors from all over the country.

Tucked away in the box canyon in San Juan Mountains in southwest Colorado, Telluride is definitely an exclusive destination as it’s not easy to get to. It takes about 5-6 hours from Denver to get here, and the local airport doesn’t have big commercial flights.

Telluride is a scenic destination that is renowned for its year-round outdoor opportunities, gorgeous nature, and a vibrant art scene, so it’s not just skiing that brings so many people here (Although Telluride does have some great slopes).

Telluride also offers some of the best hiking trails in Colorado from the iconic Blue Lakes a short drive away to Jud Wiebe Memorial Trail that can be accessed from downtown Telluride.

For an amazing experience, take a free gondola between Telluride and Mountain Village from where you can get a panoramic view of the San Juan Mountains.

Visitors also enjoy an ice rink at Hotel Madeline or get a tour of the area to learn about its history of silver mining.

Downtown Telluride is home to a big art scene with several galleries and you can easily participate in one of the organized tours.

From Jess of I’m Jess Traveling

Vail, Colorado is one of the best places to visit in the state.  Known for its world-class ski runs and luxurious accommodations, Vail is a sought-after destination worldwide.

You can travel to Vail year-round but the best time to visit Vail is in the winter.  With over 5,000 acres of skiable terrain, Vail Ski Resort is not only one of the biggest in the United States but it’s also extremely popular.

From the legendary back bowls to the bunny hill, Vail mountain offers something for every ability level.

Vail Village is full of boutique shops, fun bars, and tasty restaurants.  One of the best bars in Vail Village is Vendetta’s.  Come here for a fun environment, apres drinks, and cheap pizza.

If you are looking for more of an intimate dining experience reserve a table at one of the several on-mountain restaurants like Game Creek.

Whatever it is that peaks your interest, Vail, Colorado is a Colorado travel destination for the whole family to enjoy.

From Agnes of The Van Escape

Pagosa Springs is a town picturesquely situated on the San Juan River in the southwestern part of Colorado.

It is worth adding it to the road trip itinerary, especially when you plan also visit Durango and Great Sand Dunes National Park. Pagosa Springs will be the perfect stop for a longer break on the US-160W route.

The town is famous for its magnificent thermal springs, thanks to which it owes its name. In Ute, “pagosah” means “healing waters.” Pagosa is the home of the world’s deepest geothermal hot spring.

So, the best thing you can do in this town is soaked up the hot springs and relax.

The mineral-rich waters fill the baths at The Springs Resort & Spa, The Overlook Hot Springs, and Healing Waters Resort & Spa. Each of them is open to the public.

In addition to the hot springs resorts, there are interesting and picturesque hiking trails around Pagosa Springs. You can admire fabulous waterfalls like Treasure Falls or Piedra Falls. Moreover, rafting and kayaking trips are popular on the San Juan River.

From Jenny of Limitless Hiker

Spend a weekend or even a long weekend exploring Colorado Springs. It’s the perfect amount of time to experience the highlights of this small town in Colorado.

Colorado Springs is well known for its Manitou Springs Incline which gains nearly 2,000 feet of elevation over less than 1 mile. Whether you’re looking for a tough workout to start training for Colorado 14ers (14,000-foot mountains), or just want to challenge yourself, this incline trail is a must.

Colorado Springs is also known for the beautiful Garden of the Gods park.

The Garden of the Gods is known for its bright orange rock formations. It’s a popular spot among rock climbers or you can spend some time biking around or even hiking around.

Next on the list of must-see places in Colorado Springs is Pikes Peak. Which is the only 14er in this area. You have the option of hiking to the top, which is 26.2 miles round trip with around 7,500 feet of elevation gain, or you could also hike one way and have someone pick you up at the top. The other alternative is to drive to the top.

After you’ve had a good workout from all of that hiking, head over to the SunWater Spa and soak in their hot springs. This is a rewarding treat after a hard workout.

From Ankita of My Travelling Stilettos

Nestled in the Roaring Fork Valley in Colorado’s Rocky Mountains, Aspen is the most famous ski resort town in the US and one of the best vacation spots in Colorado.

Long snowy winters thanks to the elevation of 8000 ft and proximity of four world-renowned Ski Resorts made it the favorite ski destination for celebrities and private citizens alike.

It is situated 200 miles away from Denver and can be reached easily by road.

Skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing, ice skating, snowmobiling, sledding are the most popular activities to do in the winter.

Not an adventure junkie? Explore Aspen town.

Visit Wheeler Opera House and Hotel Jerom, catch glimpses of annual film and music festivals or experience a fine dining meal from the plethora of world-class restaurants.

Spring and falls are the ideal time to take mountain gondola rides to the top of Elks Mountains and enjoy breathtaking views along the way.

Aspen has many hiking and mountain biking trails to enjoy when it is not snowing.

From Trijit of Budget Travel Buff

Looking to get beyond Colorado’s famous ski towns and find some cheaper places in Colorado to visit that are still worthy of a Colorado bucket list? Look no further than Grand Junction.

Located at the confluence of the Gunnison and Colorado rivers, Grand Junction is such a beautiful place that offers everything from natural scenic views to Colorado adventures without burning a hole in your pocket.

It is just a short drive away from Utah and around 245 miles away from Denver. Not only for outdoor adventures but this popular Colorado town is also known as Colorado’s Wine County as it is home to many wineries.

From exploring historic downtown to wine tasting and hiking nearby trails, you will find plenty of things to do in Grand Junction.

Discover Grand Junction’s historic downtown district which is filled with varieties of mixed art galleries, sculptures, local boutiques, restaurants, and breweries.

Next, visit the Colorado National Monument, where you just may think that you’ve been transporated to the rocky landscape of southern Utah.

Located just a short drive from downtown, these natural stunning landscapes of red rock formations will leave you awestruck.

Grand Junction is also a great place for wine lovers. If you visit this place in summer or spring, don’t miss a wine tasting tour. Enjoy the views of the vineyards while sipping on some of the best quality wines.

From Krystianna of Delightfully Denver

One of the most underrated places to visit in Colorado is the town of Golden!

This town has deep-rooted wild west vibes and is home to some amazing attractions that you won’t want to miss when visiting this state. Plus, one day in Golden is all you need.

Even though Denver is home to Coors Field, Golden is actually where Coors Brewery is located.

The brewery hosts tours for the public, and you can even catch a shuttle bus from downtown Golden to easily get there if you’re traveling without a car.

Golden is also one of the best towns near Denver for hiking. There are a few mountains to hike here, including Lookout Mountain and Table Mountain, and both are equally great.

Downtown Golden is lovely too. There’s a huge “Welcome to Golden” sign that gets decorated for the holidays. You can find a bunch of local shops and restaurants throughout downtown Golden like Woody’s Wood Fired Pizza.

If you’re wondering where to go in Colorado and want to visit a small western town, Golden is the perfect place!

From Corritta of It’s a Family Thing

One of the best-kept secrets of Colorado is Canon City. I know you may be wondering what makes this one of the best places in Colorado, and that’s the Royal Gorge Bridge.

Only an hour away from Colorado Springs, Canon City is a small town with a big bridge. The Royal Gorge Bridge is the highest suspended bridge in the United States. The bridge is over 900 feet above the Arkansas River.

It is a sight to see and even more amazing to walk. Along with walking across the over 1200 footbridge, you can also ride the gondola across the gorge, zipline, or fly on the royal rush sky coaster.

As if that wasn’t enough, you can head down to the gorge and enjoy a train ride along the Arkansas River. You can relax and have dinner while learning more about Canon City.

If you are up for an adventure, you can raft on the Arkansas River. Take of the waters while taking in the beautiful scenic views.

In the spring, you can enjoy the music and blossom festival, which is a celebration of the upcoming cherry and apple crop.

Canon City is the perfect small-town with diners, shops, boutiques, and few traffic lights. Be sure to stop at Julian’s Taco Shop downtown; you won’t regret it.

From Dymphe of Dym Abroad

Aurora is one of the best places in Colorado. You find the city to the east of Denver.

There are lots of great things to do and see in the city of Aurora. For example, there are a lot of outdoor activities and there is beautiful nature.

One of the best things to do in Aurora is going to Cherry Creek State Park. This is a beautiful park with lots of places with water. It is the perfect place for a relaxing walk while seeing the Rocky Mountains in the background.

Another great thing about Cherry Greek State Park is that there are many water activities. Besides that, another great thing to do in Aurora is visiting the Wings Over the Rockies Air & Space Museum. This is a very interesting museum to visit.

Also, you should go to Fiddler’s Green Amphitheatre. This is a very large outdoor amphitheater where many events throughout the year take place.

From Allison of She Dreams of Alpine

If standing on the summit of a 14er is on your Colorado bucket list, don’t miss a trip to Mount Evans.

You can reach the 14,265-foot summit of this mountain in multiple ways, so you get to decide how hard you want to work to get to the top.

Mount Evans is located about 60 miles west of Denver, along Mount Evans Scenic Byway (aka Highway 5), which is the highest paved road in the whole country.

You can actually drive it straight to the top with only a short stroll to the true summit from the parking lot.

For the extra bragging rights and experience of hiking a 14er, pull off earlier on the road and park at Summit Lake trailhead.

From there, hike approximately 4.5 miles round trip (with 2300 feet of elevation gain) to get to the summit of Mount Evans.

If you prefer pedal power, you can bike to the summit as well.

Be aware that the road to the trailhead and summit is closed in winter, so plan to visit Mount Evans in spring, summer, or fall.

From Jesal of Tourist to Travellers

Grand Lake Colorado, the largest natural lake in Colorado is a picturesque sight with snow-capped mountains and a breathtaking backdrop of the wild Rocky Mountains, and it ranks among the best Colorado vacation spots!

At 8300 feet above sea level, the scenery is unmatched and the sprawling greenery is soothing to one’s eyes.

It’s also an ideal basecamp for the adventure seeker.

While visiting Grand Lake, be sure to take a scenic walk along the lakeshore, relax on the beach, take a few hikes to enjoy the scenery, and keep an eye out for wildlife.

You could hire a cozy cabin in the woods and spend some time with your loved ones.

If you’re visiting this beautiful place in Colorado during winter, consider trying out skiing or snowboarding during your trip.

From Meg of Fox in the Forest

Willow Lakes in Colorado brings the drama of the Colorado Gore Range to life.

If you’re up for a challenging hike that makes up for every drop of sweat with fantastic scenery, this is definitely one of the best places in Colorado to please your adventurous soul!

Known for its rugged trails, fantastic mountain views, and jaw-dropping views of alpine lakes (one which is backdropped by an impressive series of gendarmes, the Zodiac Spires), Willow Lakes will greet you every step of the way with yet another wonderful view (usually better than the last!).

Another highlight? The entire trail is lined with flowers, which makes it one of the best wildflower hikes in Colorado!

One of the coolest things to do at Willow Lakes (aside from dropping your jaw to the ground at the scenery) is camping in one of the most beautiful places to visit in Colorado.

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A proposal for a supplementary indicator to the human development index in Mexico is contained in development theories and the role of the state.

There is a person namedJorgeAlberto Ordez Tovar.

A member of the Government Research Group and a PhD candidate in government and public administration from the Ortega y Gasset-Gregorio Maran University Research Institute in Madrid. The Atlixcyotl Territorial Reserve is located in the ITESM Campus Puebla. The phone number is 800-211-2519

There are 22 jordonez@itesm.mx

The article was received on October 3, 2012 On January 10, it was accepted for publication.

Summary.

This article proposes a complementary indicator to the Human Development Index (IDH) for Mexico, which, in addition to being easy to build, reveals the direct relationship that exists between human development, poverty, inequality and the social coverage that the State provides. to its citizens, with the objective of empirically verifying their statistical relationship and putting on the table of the modifications that the HDI is undergoing, the issue of the role of the State as a relevant actor of development.

Human development, well-being, Human Development Index, development theories, well-being measurements, are some of the topics discussed.

There is an abstract.

This paper proposes a complementary index to the Human Development Index (HDI) for Mexico, which besides being easy to construct, highlights the direct link between human development, poverty, inequality and social coverage that the state provides its citizens, in order to test empirically its statistical relationship and climb to the table of changes that the hdi has been experienced, the issue of the role of the state as a major player in development.

Theories of development, welfare measurement, and human development are some of the topics covered.

The concept of development has evolved.

History has been interpreted in many different ways. This is explained because it is a complex factor to understand and difficult to promote; As we well know, it depends on multiple variables and relationships between them, and although theory has tried to frame the concept, learning on the subject is in evolution (Alarcón, 2001; Alguacil Gómez, 2008; McGillvray and Clarke, 2006; Rodrik and Subramanian, 2003; Sen, 2000; Spolaore and Wacziarg, 2013; Vázquez Barquero, 2005).

The central issue in development theory is trying to explain why some countries are rich and others poor.

The differences can be explained through what are conceptualized as obstacles to development: heterogeneous, disproportionate and disjointed productive and sectoral structure, underemployment, low levels of productivity and wages, inadequate functioning of the markets, a concentrated income distribution structure and unequal, less dynamic and functional institutional apparatus, and less innovative and rent-seeking business groups (Ramírez Cendrero, 2008), and some studies even suggest that there are deep historical roots linked to cultural traits that determine significant barriers to imitating and adopting new technologies (Spolaore and Wacziarg, 2013).

The original vision of the concept of development centered on capital accumulation has evolved to focus on institutions.

To focus the focus of this paper, when we refer to a developed country or economy, we are referring to countries that have achieved high levels of well-being in their societies: development has always been related to economic growth1 and well-being (Muñoz de Bustillo, 2011; Ramírez Cendrero, 2008), since it refers to the process by which a society progressively evolves towards better living conditions for its citizens. The focus on well-being must be preserved since development must be understood as a process and not as an end.

The start of development economics was favored with the appearance of Keynesian postulates. On the one hand, the new economic approach allowed the analysis of two models: that of full employment and that of unemployment, and on the other, the rediscovery of the dynamic and macroeconomic vision that had been neglected until then in economic analysis. New nations appeared in Asia due to decolonization, and developed economies were concerned about containing communism and achieving international stability. The search for a way to promote or accelerate development in Third World nations caused particular attention to those theories that analyzed the economics of development.

The theory of modernization was configured during the first years, in which economic development was equivalent to economic growth. The standard of living in societies would gradually increase with sustained income growth. In the initial stages of growth, it was thought that there would be a process of increased inequality that would be compensated over time, as well as the fact that the increase in production and income poverty would be overcome. Industrialization, protection of the internal market and State intervention were the ways to achieve development.

However, the proposed formula did not achieve the desired results (Ramírez Cendrero, 2008), at the end of the fifties it was evident that the growth goals had not been reached and voices such as Bauer and Johnson began to emerge, proposing the market as a a guarantee of efficiency and economic and political freedom.3 On the other hand, what is known as the dependency theory (headed by Paul Baran) emerged, which argued that no peripheral country could achieve the development of developed economies due to because the characteristics of the capitalist system had molded the Third World to the demands of the developed economies by integrating them into the world economy. He proposed that capitalism be replaced by an economic system that would allow popular development.

Towards the end of the fifties, neoclassical economists postulated that production was a function determined by two factors: labor and capital (Solow model) with constant returns to scale and diminishing returns of each factor, in which the growth rate of the product gross domestic product (GDP) per capita would tend to zero in the absence of technical progress, so there would come a time when it would grow at the same rate as the active population; They then argued that in order to achieve a higher rate of growth, a technological change exogenous to the system would be necessary, that is, it was believed that technology was available to everyone and that it did not represent a cost. Subsequently, the idea arises that technological change is endogenous and therefore is part of the function that determines production (Romer, Lucas, Grossman and Helpman models), for which reason economic growth (development) strategies were focused in the generation, production and dissemination of knowledge (Hounie et al., 1999).

Some questions began to arise about the functioning of the economy from some "developing" countries after the development proposals came from the advanced economies.

Ral Prebich, the first director of ECLAC 5, argued that Third World countries through industrialization and their inclusion into the world economy explain under development. The main contributions of this "structuralist" analysis on how to interpret development were four: interpretation of the economy from the center-periphery system, the structural obstacles to development, the analysis of how the terms of trade evolve, and industrialization from of import substitution (Ramírez Cendrero, 2008, pp. 45-49; Hounie et al., 1999.

In the 70s, it became clear that the economic growth, the industrialization process and the improvement in productive capacity that was observed in underdeveloped countries were not reflected in improvements in living standards.

Which meant that the proposed means had not reached their ends and this brought with it a change in the interpretation of development, prioritizing the ends, which were now related to the increase in living conditions, especially for the poorest sectors, that is, , of those who could not satisfy their "basic needs": food, housing, clothing, water, education, health, transportation, employment, and individual and political freedoms. New theories of development are focused on the analysis and treatment of the people who suffer from underdevelopment, instead of understanding it.

Since then, the concept of development has evolved towards a capabilities approach, which has a culmination point with the concept of human development and the UN millennium goals.

A very interesting systemic approach to development is the one proposed by Fontela and Guzmán (2003) called "Circular theory of development", which arises from the works and classic interpretations on the subject by Myrdal (1957), Kaldor (1957), Perroux (1961 ) and Nurkse (1955), as well as more recent studies and approaches such as those by Sanpedro and Martínez Cortiña (1973), Rallo (1998), Pulido (2000), Sen (1998), Karl (2002) and Lagos (2001). in which they address the concept from three dimensions: political, economic and social, and which is schematized in the following diagram:

They intend to explain the differences between countries and the development process with this system.

The World Bank and the UN Development Program are examples of institutions of international stature that have operationalized and advanced development issues.

One of the best-known reports produced by UNDP is its report on human development, a concept that represents the consolidation of the vision of this organization and which we will discuss in detail later.

The concept of development ismultidimensional.

It is relevant since the efforts of societies are aimed at achieving their development, and understanding the concept and its dimensions contributes to designing better strategies and public policies to achieve it.

Measurement of development and well-being.

The measurement of GDP per capita was the measure par excellence because it was the only way to measure development before the 1990s.

Following Muñoz de Bustillo (2011), the explanation of the above "is simple": economic theory grants individuals' disposable income primary importance as a determinant of their level of utility and well-being and, furthermore, from the emergence Keynesianism and the consolidation of macroeconomics, a whole instrumental was designed to capture the statistical information that would allow calculating or estimating national production, which led to the use of GDP per capita as a variable directly related to well-being, and not only by not be the only one available, but because it fully coincides with the idea of ​​individual well-being focused on access to more and better services and goods resulting from economic growth (Costanza et al, 2009).

However, this approach has evolved since the appearance of the works of Amartya Sen (1980; 1999; 2000) in the eighties, who proposed a change of approach to understand well-being in an integral way (Fontela Montes and Guzmán, 2003; Harding and Wantchekon, 2010; López-Calva and Vélez Grajales, 2003; McGillvray and Clarke, 2006; Oriol Prats, 2006), a change that caused an evolution of the concept towards increasing people's capacities and the effective use of these to the satisfaction of their needs (Latouche, 2007; Sen, 1999; 2000). The use that is given to the income is more important than the level of income itself.

Freedoms and capacities are determined by the rights and opportunities that people have within a society, since only through the possibility of choosing can they achieve their well-being.

Undoubtedly, measuring development and well-being is a complex task,6 due to the fact that there are many meanings regarding what development is, and designing an indicator that allows gathering all concerns appears to be impossible, coupled with the lack of information and the fact that certain intrinsic aspects of development are difficult phenomena to measure given their nature.

Human development is the concept.

The concept of human development is the most current approach to development theory.

Its origin dates back to the eighties and especially to the works of Amartya Sen (1980; 1999; 2000) (Fontela Montes and Guzmán, 2003; Harding and Wantchekon, 2010; López-Calva and Vélez Grajales, 2003; McGillvray and Clarke, 2006; Oriol Prats, 2006) and Mahbub Ul-Haq (UNDP, 1990), who proposed understanding development from a comprehensive approach centered on what is known as the capabilities approach, based on the capabilities of people and the effective use of these to satisfy their needs (Latouche, 2007; Sen, 1999; 2000).

Before the 1990s, GDP per capita growth was the epitome of development.

Development is not wanted for the sake of development, it is wanted because under these conditions the well-being of the population can be significantly improved. In addition to the above, although the figures on income are useful, the data by itself does not represent the composition of income or the real beneficiaries, since the calculation of per capita income does not consider areas or situations with a strong influence on well-being and includes some others with a lesser relationship or even a negative one;7 in addition, people value many aspects that are left out of the income register, such as better nutrition, better medical services, greater access to information and knowledge, greater security in their lives, jobs with better working conditions, more leisure, access to cultural and leisure activities, and political activities (Torre and Moreno, 2010; Alarcón, 2001; Harding and Wantchekon, 2010; Mancero, 2001; PNUD, 1990). .

The approaches to capabilities gave rise to the creation of new measures that go beyond the income approach.

The UNDP, in its 1990 report (UNDP, 1990), published the Human Development Index (IDH) which, to this day, is presented as one of the most important measurements on this subject (Oriol Prats, 2006), since which has shown that economic growth is a means to achieve human development and not an end in itself (Mancero, 2001).

The idea of creating a context or environment in which people enjoy long, healthy and creative lives is the basic objective of development according to the UNDP. Human development is a process through which people's opportunities to live longer and better, have access to education and enjoy a decent standard of living are increased, in addition to having political freedom and guarantee of compliance with human rights.

The ideal way to measure human development would be to include a series of variables that help us understand the situation in aholistic way. However, trying to capture all the dimensions of the concept in an indicator would require a significant amount of information for which there are no data, either because they would be issues that are not measured or because there would not be adequate data series; coupled with the fact that an excessive inclusion of variables in the development of the indicator could generate an erroneous interpretation of its results (Walton, 2010; Harding and Wantchekon, 2010; Mancero, 2001; UNDP, 1990; Veres Ferrer, 2006).

The UNDP decided to measure human development through three elements: longevity, knowledge and decent standards of living. The indicator used for longevity is life expectancy at birth, which is an indicator that is related to situations or benefits such as levels of food, health and safety. The indicator used for the subject of knowledge is literacy, which also refers to access to education. The indicator used for decent living standards is per capita income.

The operationalization of the above is done by using an index of life expectancy, another of education, and another of GDP per capita.

The minimum and maximum values are used as reference points to compare the countries that make up the index.

The life expectancy variable is used to calculate the health index.

The literacy rate and the combined gross enroll rate make up the education index, which is weighted two-thirds and one-third. The simple average of the two dimensions is what makes the index. The GDP per capita is calculated using the logarithm of GDP per capita in dollars.

The HDI is calculated with the simple average after the three indices have been created, with the idea of incorporating certain improvements and addressing the multiple criticisms that it has aroused. The HDI does not take into account the broad scope of the concept of human development, so it is important to note.

As can be assumed at this point from what has already been said, the HDI presents some inherent flaws in its design (McGillivray and Noorbakhsh, 2004), which are difficult to overcome if it is intended to continue having a single index that allows international comparisons to be made.

The concepts for which the IDH has received various criticisms were summarized by Herrero, Martnez and Villar.

In addition to the above, these failures are related to the fact that the measurements hide the wide divergences that exist within the various social groups, since the same levels of longevity, knowledge and standard of living will not be found between men and women, and between social strata. low, medium and high social levels (UNDP, 1990), coupled with the fact that the dimension of per capita income that makes up the indicator has great weight, since the other dimensions (longevity and education) only change in the long term (Alarcón, 2001 ), so the index is not very sensitive to long-term economic growth (León and Espíndola, 2004). Although the indicator was designed to no longer use GDP per capita as a measure of well-being, it is still highly relevant when it comes to measuring development (Tilak, 1992; Cahill, 2005); However, the use of a single indicator when evaluating development and making policy decisions is much simpler and has had greater penetration and acceptance than using multiple data and measures (López-Calva and Vélez Grajales, 2003; Colectivo Loé, 2008; Mancero, 2001).

Kovacevic (2010), carries out an exhaustive follow-up of the criticisms raised over time9 and concludes that they are focused on two general areas; those that question the definition of human development and the way in which its components and determinants are measured, and those that are related to the way in which a human development index is constructed from different indicators.

In 2010, the UNDP generated a special edition of the report, to celebrate the twentieth anniversary of the birth of the concept, this report focuses on the trend and evolution of human development; contrasts various hypotheses with a large number of empirical analyses, and demonstrates that there is no single path to sustainable progress and that significant progress has been made without high levels of economic growth (UNDP, 2010).

This report highlights that the data of the last twenty years show that there is no single path to achieve human development, argues that it has been shown that countries can do a lot for human development, and that although economic growth is important , changes do not occur automatically, but require political will, leadership and the permanent commitment of the international community.

Some countries have seen setbacks due to armed conflicts, epidemics of diseases, and political and economic mismanagement.

And although it incorporates three new measurements that represent a significant advance: the HDI adjusted for inequality10 (which had been one of the main criticisms that the HDI had received since its creation), the gender inequality index and a multidimensional poverty index,11 continues to recognize that work must be done on the statistical issue, since there are very important dimensions that should be incorporated in the future: empowerment, sustainability and inequality.

The concept of human development is flexible, so it will have to incorporate the challenges of the future.

In Mexico, the UNDP has a representative office that prepares reports on human development. It uses the same methodology as in the international arena, with the advantage of standardizing the information sources for all the states, as it has unified information sources for all the states.

Three reports have been generated so far. The HDI adjusted for inequality and the poverty index are not present in the latest report.

The State has a role in welfare.

The most studied and accepted reference regarding state intervention in order to promote development and well-being is what is known as the Welfare State (WE), which is materialized through different ways and models; By EB we refer to a form or philosophy of governing, since the State has commitments and responsibilities towards its citizens, which it is obliged to carry out through its actions. Rights that are guaranteed are linked to social welfare.

From the public policies that a government implements to promote the well-being of its citizens, what is known as social or welfare policy is generated; This set of policies forms a unique mix of public positions, interventions, incentives, regulations, aid and other instruments that a government can use to achieve its objectives.

It is logical to think that each national government has opted for different policies that generate different taxonomies of said social or welfare policies, so it is common to say that each BS is unique.

If the various welfare models in the world are analyzed, certain common features can be distinguished that allow us to identify the EB as a public coverage system against involuntary risks suffered by citizens; and that the three risks that have traditionally been covered in an EB are the risks of falling ill, losing a job, and aging.

The risk of being born or becoming disabled has been added to the three traditional pillars of coverage, which have become the fourth pillar. On the one hand, the current EBs are adapting and revitalizing their traditional pillars, while on the other, they are developing new policies.

The education part of the EB is usually related to preferences for equal opportunities that have always accompanied progressive thought.

The way in which the government can intervene within these areas is articulated with the possibilities of its action, which is either to provide or regulate services, transfer economic benefits or generate specific conditions.

The fact that there are different conceptions of what an EB is and implies is relevant, since this shows that there are different ways of structuring society and intervening publicly for it.

Montoro (2000) carries out an exhaustive review of the literature on BE and analyzes the various existing typologies; one of the main contributions is his interpretation that the typologies are actually a projection of the variables that essentially define what characterizes an EB, in such a way that these variables help us to better understand and interpret their scope and nature: degree of state intervention (Titmuss, 1976), equal opportunities (Jones, 1985), differences in social benefits (Therborn, 1989), quality of social rights and their access (Esping-Andersen, 1993).

The models respond to variables that different authors have identified as key to explaining the differences between different ways of publicly intervening to promote well-being.

If we wanted to analyze a certain welfare regime, we would find that none of the proposed models would fully respond to the case under study. In reality, the options are manifested and applied so diversely that it would not be possible to fully fit a country within a certain model (Juárez and Sánchez Daza, 2003; Muñoz de Bustillo, 2000; Muñoz Machado et al., 2000). , since national particularities have resulted in different structures and spheres of action regarding the provision of social services and benefits (Ordóñez Barba, 2002).

Through its interventions, the government acts as a guarantor of certain conditions that have a direct impact on the social well-being of its citizens. Public policies can be used to define, regulate or deliver the various services considered in the EB, since they can be of a different nature.

The government has ways of addressing these issues that can be classified into three different types, which are directly provide services, regulate the provision of services and transfer resources to its citizens.

It is important to point out that the government has the ability to decide what is within public responsibility and therefore within the EB, which is the main condition of these three forms.

The political system is the foundation of the social demands of the state, and only an authoritarian or hegemonic regime can decide for itself the conditions of its own existence.

The areas in which the State will intervene can provide services directly to its citizens. We can cite the cases of health and education services that are offered in almost all countries. Regarding these two examples, we can analyze the way in which the government would get involved: a) to directly offer this type of service, a large amount of monetary and human resources is required, for which the State has to obtain them through various collection mechanisms (which implies other types of policies other than those of health and education) that in turn generate positive and negative repercussions on the economy, and b) in addition, infrastructure is required that goes beyond schools and hospitals, and that involves highly trained cadres to direct, operate, monitor and evaluate the provision of services; coupled with the need for another type of infrastructure such as communications and transport that is essential for the correct delivery of services.

Since a policy will be related to others of a different nature and this definitely influences the operation and scope of a government, the decision to offer a specific service has diverse and complex implications.

The regulation of services is the second way that a government can intervene.

In many countries there are private schools and hospitals that offer services. Private schools have to abide by authorized study plans and respect the officially stipulated school calendar in this type of arrangement, since the State functions as a financier.

It is necessary to make sure that the employees of private hospitals are qualified to carry out their jobs. The way in which the State is involved in the provision of welfare services is shown in the two previous examples.

The regulation of the State is complex in other issues. Minimum wages, working hours, and overtime are some of the regulations that have to do with employment in many countries.

Interest rates, which make money more expensive or cheaper and have a significant influence on productive investment and job creation, are some of the regulations that have an indirect impact. The trade and tariffs regulations affect the commercial relations of companies and also their productivity and yields, which affects employment. We can add to the above a series of related elements, such as regulations on foreign investment, the development of particular infrastructure to make certain geographical areas more attractive to investors, the legal and regulatory framework of commercial agreements and contracts and that offer security, certainty and legal predictability to employees, employers and investors, and subsidy policies, among others. We can make the complexity of the government's actions visible when it undertakes to attend to certain aspects of well-being by implying that regulations that affect employment.

The transfer of economic resources to citizens is a third way for a government to intervene. The most common example is in pensions. Sickness, disability and unemployment benefits are also available. A great economic capacity is required to carry out the above actions, and economic resources are needed that have to come from society and affect other aspects of well-being in some way.

Olmeda Daz divides public actions into four areas: public production, public provision, public financing and public regulation.

This division adds to the previous three that have been public provision, it has to do with the distribution system of goods and services and can capture private production of goods and services, which will be purchased by the State and that could be distributed through the market or public allocation

All the forms of intervention discussed in the previous paragraphs must be contextualized with respect to other dimensions that characterize the "type" or "model" of EB in which they are carried out (i.e. coverage of services: services for all or only for some, scope: education yes, but unemployment benefits no). The degree of involvement of the State in welfare is not the same to offer, regulate or transfer resources according to the principles of universality than it is to demonstrate needs. There are many models and schemes of EB.

There is a proposal for an indicator to the HDI for Mexico.

In addition to what has already been mentioned about the HDI, we have that various indicators are usually built to offer notions about state intervention in welfare and development, especially reference is made to public spending as a percentage of GDP, as well as various breakdowns that they allow comparing the spending carried out within social policy with respect to other policies and with the GDP itself.

These are important measures that allow us to observe the commitment of the State, which is reflected in economic terms, in order to promote and ensure the well-being of its citizens.

In this section we propose a well-being index to complement any analysis that can be carried out on this aspect, in the understanding that the vast majority of the indicators used refer to performance and not to results, perhaps the most advanced indicator in this sense (without be exempt from criticism) would be the HDI, the well-being indicator that we propose could complement it in a significant way, since without including the same dimensions of analysis it is closely related as we will demonstrate later.

We propose using poverty and inequality, two of the main social problems not only in Mexico but in most countries, complemented by social coverage, which is a fundamental aspect to guarantee access to various public services (health, pensions, maternity and housing): "entitlements/economically active population (EAP) (social coverage), Gini coefficient (inequality) and patrimony poverty (which, being a cumulative variable, includes skill and food poverty)".

Table 1 shows the variables used.

It was decided to use the arithmetic mean of periods of years for these variables in order to strengthen and synthesise the data analysis because of the complexity of the phenomenon.

The periods used are from Table 2. Before starting to work with the data, an exploratory analysis was done to verify their main descriptive characteristics, as well as the normality of their behavior, which allowed us to realize that most of the variables required some kind of transformation to guarantee their normal behavior.

The details can be found in Table 3.

The hypothesis that higher levels of well-being should be associated with higher levels of human development is the basis for the indicator we designed.

The well-being indicator was built with the three variables in mind. The component resulting from this analysis explains more than 75% of the variables. The annex shows the detail of the results that justify the use of a PCA to build the index. This document is one of the ones.

It is possible to analyze the relationship between the HDI and the index.

The relationship is shown in a visual way. There is a relationship between the indices, but a more rigorous analysis was performed.