Although the level of income is an important indicator of development, it is an inadequate measure of the level of development because:
(a) it takes into consideration only the monetary view of development.
(b) a high level of income may not satisfy an individual if other aspects like security, freedom, opportunities, welfare, health facilities, education and cleanliness, are absent.
(c) it is perhaps universally accepted that development is not just about income, although income (economic wealth, more generally) has a great deal to do with it.
(d) development is also about the removal of poverty and undernutrition. It is an increase in life expectancy and access to sanitation, clean drinking water and health services. It is the reduction of infant mortality and increased access to knowledge and schooling and literacy, in particular.
(e) it fails as an adequate overall measure and must be supplemented by other indicators directly.