1 - definitions, patterns and measures of development

Question 1

compare developed countries vs less developed countries in terms of:
- average annual income
- cars (per 1000 of population)
- access to clean water
- life expectancy
- chance of death in pregnancy
- deaths before the age of 5
- people with HIV
- number of people per doctor
- annual spend per person on health

Answer 1

AVERAGE ANNUAL INCOME: developed = $27000 vs Africa $1700
CARS PER 1000: usa = 561 vs africa = 14
ACCESS TO CLEAN WATER: uk = 100% vs drc 45%
LIFE EXPECTANCY: G8 countries = 77 vs africa = 48
CHANCE OF DEATH IN PREGNANCY: G8 countries = 1 in 4,085 vs africa 1 in 13
DEATHS BEFORE 5: G8 countries = 1 in 200 vs africa 1 in 5
PEOPLE WITH HIV: developed = 1.5m vs africa 28m
NO OF PEOPLE PER DOCTOR: italy = 169 vs malawi = 50,000
ANNUAL SPEND PER PERSON ON HEALTH: canada = $2534 vs mali = $1

Question 2

development traditional definiton

Answer 2

The process of positive change operating over time

First used in reference to the Empire and Colonies.
Synonymous with economic growth.
Emphasis on poorer nations catching-up with richer nations.

Question 3

changing views of development

Answer 3

1. “Colonials” and “Natives”
2. Three Worlds Model - 1st Capitalist, 2nd Socialist, 3rd Undeveloped.
3. More/Less Economically Developed
4. Quality of Life
5. Cultural and Political
6. Sustainable/Unsustainable
   “Greening of Development”

Question 4

changing measure of development

Answer 4

1. Economic Indices
2. Multivariate Analysis
   Related to Health, Education etc
3. Quality of Life Indices
   Freedom of speech, right to vote, freedom from discrimination
   Move from Quantitative to Qualitative

Question 5

modern definition of development

Answer 5

“The process of improving the quality of all human lives by:

• raising people’s living standards, their incomes, consumption levels of food, medical services and education through relevant economic growth processes.
• raising people’s self esteem through the establishment of social, political and economic systems and institutions that promote dignity and respect.
• increasing people’s freedom by enlarging the range of their choices eg variety of consumer goods”

Question 6

changing view of global development

Answer 6

NORTH SOUTH DIVIDE - the brandt line, 1980

GDP per capita

Question 7

how is economic indices a measure

Answer 7

GNP per capita - ‘total value of a country’s economic production in one year’ including total value all goods/services sold domestically and profits from overseas investments which isnt in GDP

Question 8

limitations of GDP

Answer 8

• Hides disparities within the country.
• Exchange rates with $ change over time.
• Ignores relative purchasing power in each country.
• Ignores unique geographical circumstances:
  ie large countries spend more on transport.
  Ie cold countries spend more on heating.

Question 9

multivariate analysis

Answer 9

• Development is complex so can not be measured in just economic terms.
• Analysis of several variables in one measure.
• Acceptance that one quantitative measure cannot fully reflect a pattern so a number may be used for comparison purposes between locations.

Eg – Social Development Index (UN, 1970)

Question 10

quality of life indices

Answer 10

Eg – Physical Quality of Life Index (PQLI)

3 measures: Literacy, Life Expectancy and Infant Mortality
Each scaled 0-100 (eg shortest LE = 0 and longest LE = 100)
Average of three figures.

Question 11

how is HDI determined

Answer 11

Ranking of three outputs:
1. Longevity (LE at birth)
2. Knowledge (weighted 66% Adult literacy & 33% mean years of schooling)
3. Income (adjusted to local purchasing power)

Question 12

limitations of HDI

Answer 12

• Politically motivated (eg too specifically focussed on health ?)
• Three indicators are good but not ideal (ie would a nutritional index for under 5’s be more diagnostic ?)
• Hides regional disparities (eg between urban and rural populations)
• Hides social disparities (eg between blacks and whites in South Africa)
• No advance on Multivariate Analysis (eg “Development Profiles”)
• Progress is relative not absolute (therefore the poorest countries often do not get credit for progress)

Question 13

international human suffering index (IHSI)

Answer 13

• Calculated by The Population Crisis Committee (Washington, DC)
• First calculated in 1987.
  Based on 10 variables
• Low scores = Less suffering (Lowest is Switzerland [4])

Question 14

1960s Rostow model of development

Answer 14

1. traditional society, limited technology and static
2. preconditions for takeoff, commercial exploitation of agriculture and extractive industry
3. takeoff, development of a manufacturing industry
4. drive to maturity, development of wider industrial and commercial base
5. high mass consumption

Question 15

brandt line evolution

Answer 15

The Brandt Line was updated with an LIC/HIC division to separate poorer and wealthier countries.

This is more sophisticated, but still depends upon which economic measures are selected to compare countries.

Question 16

the 5 worlds model

Answer 16

• Since 2010 a 5 Worlds Model has been proposed with countries being classed as HIC, NEE, Oil-exporting, LIC and HIPC (Heavily Indebted Poorer Countries).
• Whilst this adds a degree of sophistication, it is still impossible to place all countries easily into a category, as so many variables are involved.

Question 17

disparities in death rates

Answer 17

Whilst we often assume that the poorest countries will have the highest death rates, this is often not the case.

Younger populations and warmer climates often see countries with relatively poor development indicators scoring very well on Death Rates.

Question 18

limitations of birth rates/infant mortality

Answer 18

Whilst both Birth Rates and Infant Mortality are often very useful measures, the accuracy of data in the poorest countries can often be questioned.

Many LICs are unable to record accurate information due to poor healthcare systems and a lack of monitoring.

Question 19

limitations of birth rates/infant mortality in LICs

Answer 19

Many LICs are unable to record accurate information due to poor healthcare systems and a lack of monitoring.

Question 20

limitations of literacy rates in LICs

Answer 20

in the poorer LICs they do not show incredibly important skills such as farming and practical knowledge. A formal education does not necessarily equip a person to live off the land.

Question 21

limitations of GNI per head

Answer 21

• it does not always include agricultural and craft product values in subsistence economies.
• it does not take local purchasing power into account. $1 is worth much more in Burundi than the USA.

Question 22

the development gap data

Answer 22

The richest 20% consume over 80% of all the resources in the world.

The poorest 20% produce just 1.3% of global GDP.

The wealthiest 1% own half the wealth of the planet.

Question 23

how has the representation of the development gap changed

Answer 23

The Development Gap has been represented by the Brandt Line, created in 1980 by the former German Chancellor Willy Brandt.

Today this approach is rather out dated and The Development Continuum is more commonly referred to.

Question 24

causes of uneven development

Answer 24

• landlocked countries
• historical events
• war
• climate
• diseases
• extreme events
• economic causes
• exploitation
• safe water supply

Question 25

how are:
landlocked countries
- historical events
- war
- climate
- diseases
causes of uneven development

Answer 25

LANDLOCKED COUNTRIES - rely on neighbours to import/export goods, can be a barrier if relations are strained, like North + South Sudan.
HISTORICAL EVENTS -Colonialism helped some countries to develop their infrastructure, but robbed others of resources and labour. After Niger gained independence from France in 1960 it experienced long periods of political instability (one of the poorest countries on the planet.)
WAR - can halt the development of a country through destruction of infrastructure and deaths of many people. In 2013 an estimated 28.5 million primary school age people were unable to attend school because of war.
CLIMATE - Soils in tropical areas are much poorer and plants contain lower amounts of carbohydrates. Unreliable rainfall and extreme weather events lead to serious issues with regular and sustained food production.
DISEASES - Tropical regions suffer from more diseases than elsewhere on the planet. The tsetse fly threatens the health of livestock.

Question 26

how are:
- extreme events
- economic causes
- exploitation
- safe water supply
a cause of uneven development

Answer 26

EXTREME EVENTS - Hurricanes and droughts affect tropical areas worse than other regions.
Some countries are vulnerable to natural hazards.
ECONOMIC CAUSES -
Trade barriers and protectionism from powerful economic areas of the world like the EU and NAFTA restrict the ability of poorer nations to trade freely or fairly.
EXPLOITATION - Nigeria is oil rich, but much of the wealth has been earned by TNCs operating in the country.
SAFE WATER SUPPLY - In some Sub-Saharan African countries more than half the population has no access to clean water supplies.

Question 27

variations between countries

Answer 27

In the South of Nigeria there is one of the fastest growing middle classes on the planet. High levels of FDI have seen an ever developing economy to the point where Nigeria now tops the MNCs most watched list on the planet.

However, in the North East of Nigeria there have been considerable tensions with Boko Haram. There are 2.2 million internally displaced people in the country, with 244,000 severely malnourished children and over a million children unreachable by aid agencies or NGOs.

Question 28

how is gender inequality measured

Answer 28

GEM (Gender Empowerment Measure) or GDI (Gender-related Development Index)