Development Summary

The scale and stages in which people and places grow.

Development is a term used to describe the process of improvement in a nations
standard of living (wellbeing) or economic process.

Classifications

First World US and allies (west)

Second World Soviet Union, China and allies (communist)
Third World (neutral)

Brandt
- North (rich)
- South (poor)

Majority world most poor

Minority world fewer wealthy

Industrial
Rich Poor
Underdeveloped
Income high/middle/low

MEDC more economically developed

LEDC less economically developed

Measures of Development
There are a variety of measures which can be either
quantitative (number) or qualitative (sense, feeling,
impression).
1. Quantitative Measures
Economic
- GNP (Gross National Profit) per capita
- GDP (Gross Domestic Product) measures the value of all things
produced in a country (however this measures does not take into
account the distribution of wealth or informal work)
- Unemployment Rate
- Employment by sector i.e. agricultural, manufacturing or service
based
Social
- Access to clean water
- Sanitation
- Literacy rates
Demographic
- Birth rate
- Death rate
- Fertility rate
- Nutrition
- Infant mortality
Environmental Indicators
2. Qualitative descriptions of peoples living conditions and quality of life

Demographic Transition Model

A model showing stages in the level of development for a country
from preindustrial to developed. Early stages have high birth and
death rates until industrialisation leads to better education,
health and urbanisation.

Problems using indicators

GDP
- Measuring non-paid work/informal economy
- The difficulty of collecting accurate statistics
- Doesnt tell you about the distribution of the wealth
Single component indicators only give you a picture of one aspect

Multiple component index

Human development index developed by the UN and uses GDP per

capita, life expectancy and adult literacy. These three components can
act as good indicators of others e.g. life expectancy might be argued to
reflect nutrition and general health.

Characteristics of Developing Countries

High proportion of the population in agriculture (70-90%)

Gender inequality
Labour often underemployed
Income low per head
Exports primary products
Housing and structure inadequate
Low technology
Farms small and dispersed
High birth and death rates
High illiteracy
Unstable governments
Community dependent on natural envrionment