S Development Desirable FOR Every Country

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IS DEVELOPMENT DESIRABLE FOR EVERY COUNTRY?

The stage of development a country is at is difficult to determine as the level of development of a


country depends on the type of development indicators used.

Development is an ongoing process, a continuum, along which various countries of the world can
be placed.

Development is in itself a system that operates on inputs, processes and outputs.

Economic growth and development of a country go hand in hand; development of a country is a


process of change and the growth of the economy will inevitably bring about urban change in an
environment which aims to improve the standard and quality of living of the people.

Change is linked to time; development, commonly referred to as a social and technological


progress, takes place overtime.

 Development indicators
Which is best reflective? Positive and negative points? Why is the HDI considered?
Economic development—raising incomes by expanding and improving economic activities such as
farming, manufacturing and tourism. Allows the people to enjoy a higher SOL.
-Industrial development through diversification of manufacturing and service sectors
-Creating a large export market for manufactured goods

 Gross National Product/Gross Domestic Product


GNP is an average figure, wealth is usually not distributed evenly within a nation and the GNP does
not show individual and regional differences.

In 2006, USA has a high GNP per capita of US$43800 but 12% of its population lives in absolute
poverty.

GNP does not reflect the informal economic activities that are not registered with the government
such as car washing and shoe polishing. It also understates incomes in LEDCs where many farmers
grow crops for subsistence living.
 Employment structure
LEDCs—Developing countries have a larger proportion of people working in the primary and
secondary industries (agriculture and manufacturing industries), particularly in the primary industry
where the country, has essentially a simple agriculture economy many people work as traditional
subsistence farmers and a smaller proportion in the tertiary industry.

The economy in Ethiopia is highly dependent on agriculture, which accounts for around 47% of its
GDP. 86 % of the nation’s labour were being employed in the agricultural industries as compared to
USA’s 3%.
MEDCs—People in developed countries work predominantly in the secondary and tertiary
industries, with few in the primary industry. Country houses economic activities that provide high
order goods and services e.g. commerce, banking and finance.

Social development—providing people with basic and essential services such as education, training
and healthcare.
 Level of technology—the capacity to develop technological innovations and to make
technological choices
Few countries are capable of radical innovation as R&D becomes more expensive and complicated.
For such countries, the capacity, in terms of know-how and wealth, to make the appropriate choice
between competing technologies and to develop or adapt technology to fit their own needs, should
recognized. Besides low technology, there is inadequate capital to process raw materials or to
develop industries and services.

The availability of capital and improved technology enable the country to expand its secondary
industry. There is more investment in agriculture, transport and services. For example, farming
activities in many developing countries are done manually and with the help of animals whereas in
developed countries farming processes are more mechanized. Telecommunication is easily
accessible and highly affordable. This increases accessibility and connectivity of the country, leading
to progressive globalization.
 Health (level of nutrition, health and medical care and sanitary conditions which affects left
expectancy and infant mortality rates)
Physical health and well-being are basic requirements of stable population growth and the ability to
function more effectively on a regular basis.
MEDCs-- more healthcare facilities such as hospitals, clinics and infant care facilities leading to low
infant mortality rate. The availability and easy access to modern medical technology for diagnosis
and treatment gives rises to high life expectancies across the nation. Modern sanitation and clean
water supplies are other reasons for better health.

LEDCs—inadequate trained health personnel and medical facilities, lack of pre and post natal care,
leading to high mortality rate. In 1993, Ethiopia had only 4 doctors per 100,000 people and the
infant mortality rate had remained a worrying 93 out of every 1000 lives birth.
Lack of education on nutrition, low life expectancies.
Little economic wealth  deprives people of the benefits of good medical care.
 Literacy, education, skills
MEDCs-- Provision of opportunities for all members of society to increase their capacities, giving rise
to a “quality population”. A highly literate population will be more open and adaptable to changes
and training opportunities, this makes it easier to implement measures of R&D. The population can
be trained to acquire the necessary skills needed in the different economic activities, producing
more skilled personnel and entrepreneurs needed for a country to remain competitive in the global
industries. Country able to support a high volume of economic activities that provide high order
goods and services e.g. commerce, banking and finance. High economic returns, in light of the high
value added goods and services and high labour productivity. The availability and level of education
leads to the presence of a pool of skillful and educated workforce who contributes to increased
individual and social choice and is a prerequisite for better democracy and governance.

LEDCs—Shortage of funds for schools/books, training and teaching equipment. The poor are
deprived of education as they cannot afford the service, in light of limited school places. This leads to
a low-educated and low-skilled workforce who can only partake in low skills or menial work and
receive low income.
 Housing, basic necessities (availability of proper sanitation facilities, access to clean water
supply and electricity)
The poor people in many developing countries live in substandard housing conditions with few or no
amenities. Access to safe water is essential for good health because contaminated water can lead to
diseases and outbreaks.
In the periods 1990-1994, 90% or more of the population in developed countries had access to safe
water but this was not the case for LEDCs as less than 60% of the population in Africa had safe
water.

There must be sufficient excreta disposal facilities to effectively cut out human, insect and animal
contact with excreta to prevent diseases. Only 10% of the population in Ethiopia had access to
sanitation facilities.
 Transport
Allows for quick and efficient processing of raw materials, facilitate the movement of goods and
services and trade. Increases productivity and generates wealth, contributing to high investment
capital and high level of development.

Transport network in LEDCs are rudimentary, they are usually better developed in the urban areas.
 Commercial energy consumption (includes thermal power from fossil fuels, hydroelectricity,
nuclear power. The higher the commercial energy consumption per capita, the higher will
be the economic development as it is related to the degree of industrialization and the
provision of vital services that improves the standard of living of the people such as
refrigeration for food, lighting for reading and electricity for modern communications.
Developed countries consume a lot of energy in homes, factories and other work places.

Development is a complex concept that is difficult to define—it has different meanings for
different people, influenced by values and attitudes.

 Human Development Index (combines data on life expectancy at birth, adult literacy rate
and GNP)
Measures the social and economic progress within a country as it takes into account economic
wealth as well as the quality of life of the people.

 Walt rostow’s stages of economic growth


Stage 1 (Traditional society)—subsistence economy
Stage 2 (Pre-conditions for take off)—injection of external help—technology and borrowed capital
Stage 3 (Take-off)—secondary industries grow rapidly
Stage 4 (Drive to maturity)—rapid urbanization
Stage 5 (High mass consumption)—rapid expansion of tertiary industries

Development is uneven, it occurs in all localities but at different scales.


What are the disparities between LEDCs and MEDCs?

Poverty in Ethiopia is deep and widespread. It ranks at the very bottom of the world in terms of
income with a GDP per capita of US$130. Most of its population of 77 million lives in rural areas.

Global economies should work towards sustainable development; it is an imperative for people to
balance between economic growth, social development and environmental protection for the
welfare of the future generation.
While development is desirable because it improves the economy and the people’s quality of life,
the impact of intense development that the world is experiencing today is a cause for concern. How
long can this pace of development be sustained? What happens when there is disregard for the
environment and the world’s resources are depleted through excessive development? It is therefore
very important that the world considers a level of development that is sustainable. The term
“sustainable development” refers to development at a rate that meets the needs of today’s
population without jeopardizing the development of future generations. In other words, we should
minimize environmental degradation and use natural resources with care.

Change can be positive or negative; development comes with a price.

Change is inevitable; growth and development of global economies will inevitably bring about
global change in the ecosystem, the combined physical and biological components of an
environment.

Change leads to more change; development, the multi-dimensional process of the transformation
of societies will also bring about major changes in social structures, popular attitudes and the well-
being of people. (Growth creates development)

Why is development important?


Development is instrumental in improving the SOL and enhancing the QOL in less developed
economies. It is the process of economic growth with the increase in the wealth of a country
achieved through the production and sale of goods and services. More national resources and
budget can be set aside for national development such as building of social infrastructures thereby
improving SOL of the people.

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