"Countries are grouped according to a collection of basic and economic indicators published by UNICEF, in 1990.  Two multivariate statistical methods were used:  Principal Component Analysis and Cluster Analysis.  The study [covers] 36 countries of the Americas, Europe (including the USSR), the Middle East, Asia and the other continents; they were chosen to include countries having complete information (for the 16 variables used) and in the most varied stages of development.  The first principal component was interpreted as a measure of the degree of development...with emphasis on the position occupied by Brazil (13th place among the 25 American countries).  In general, the most discriminative variables were the mortality rates of infants and children under five, and life expectancy...." (SUMMARY IN ENG)