Measuring social well-being in Mexico: A municipalized approach using the human development index and multidimensional poverty indicators (2010-2020)

Abstract

This study develops a municipal Composite Index of Social Well-being (ICBSM) for Mexico by integrating the Human Development Index (HDI) and the Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) into a single, replicable measure. Using officially reported municipal indicators, the analysis incorporates key dimensions of human development and social deprivation, including health, education, income, and selected deprivation measures. The methodological design covers 2010, 2015, and 2020 and combines data harmonization, z-score standardization, factor-based weighting with ridge-type regularization, and aggregation into the composite index. The results provide a consistent, year-comparable description of municipal well-being and identify patterns of improvement, persistence, and partial setbacks across periods. Within this descriptive scope, the ICBSM offers a practical tool for municipal comparison, benchmarking, and monitoring based on secondary data.