4.3.2 Factors influencing growth and development Flashcards
Define economic growth
an increase in real GDP/an increase in the productive potential of a country.
Define economic development
an increase in welfare or living standards over time. Unlike economic growth, economic development is a subjective concept
What are some factors associated with strong economic development? (Linking econ growth to development)
- Openness, import knowledge, exploit global demand
- Leadership and governance (Credible, capable competent governments (meeting people’s wants)
- Market allocation, prices guide resources,
- High investment and saving
- Macroeconomic stability, modest inflation, sustainable public finances
Some factors influencing economic development
- Primary products dependency
- aid
- levels of savings and investment
- foreign currency gap
- capital flight
- human capital
- access to credit and banking
- demographic
- infrastructure
- regional effects
- property rights
Why might primary product dependency be undesirable?
- price fluctuations (the Prebisch-Singer hypothesis)
- can lead to resource curse
- over specialisation
Price fluctuations with primary product dependency
- The low value added of commodities/demand for primary products = income inelastic
- so as world incomes rise = the country’s terms of trade will fall since prices of manufactured goods will rise, relative to the prices of primary products.
- This is the Prebisch-Singer hypothesis
- price fluctuations = may deter investment
the Prebisch-Singer hypothesis
countries dependent on primary produce will suffer declining terms of trade over time
Resource curse of primary product dependency
- where an economy is stuck in producing primary products with no incentive to diversify the economy.
- Countries rich in raw materials grow slowly.
Example of country suffering from resource curse/primary product dependency
Botswana: world’s largest producer of diamonds
Vulnerable
- reliance on diamond exports = economy is highly sensitive to external shocks (global demand and prices of the natural resource)
- high price and production levels = value of exports is high = high tax revenue
- in 2009, Botswana suffered from a steep fall in exports (-28%) = recession
Sustainability
- it is estimated the main diamond deposits will be exhausted between 2025-2030
Evaluation of primary product dependency
- countries can benefit from it
- impact depends on how the country decides to utilise the benefits
Evaluation of primary product dependency: how can a country benefit from it?
- primary resources prices have often risen sharply.
- Second year prices fell in the era of globalisation post 1970s (seaside/China effects)
- revenues gain from oil have enabled the Gulf states to develop rapidly gaining high levels of real GDP.
Evaluation of primary product dependency: utilising benefits from primary products?
E.g Gabon has large oil reserves.
- They produce 300,000 barrels of oil a day however, 60% of Gabon’s population live below $2 a day
-Gabon is a relatively wealthy country but the wealth is not equally distributed.
- The country has already used up most of its oil reserves and failing to find more.
- They have failed to benefit from oil wealth.
What are some solutions Botswana has put in place to help with primary product dependency?
- Eurostar Botswana, joint with the government to ensure money benefits Botswana
- more local added value
- Training programmes to improve skills
- Providing meals to children
- Supporting local communities = help development
- Library to help literacy
- To provide employment and economic opportunities (job skills, commercial activity)
Primary product dependency solution
- Buffer stock scheme
- diversification (even with tourism)
- local added value
Evaluation of diversification as a solution to primary product dependency
However, depends on labour mobility.
- how able is labour able to level from relatively unproductive agriculture to more productive manufacturing.
Aid (ODA)
- ODA: official development assistance
The transfer of resources on concessional terms
How can levels of savings/investment promote growth/development?
- inward investment = higher levels of capital & the benefits gains from attracting multinational companies into their economy.
- can support newly industrialised countries (NICs)
E.g in 2011, inward investment in Brazil stood at $101bn. - Harrod-Domar model
Harrod-Domar model
inadequate savings = low investment = capital accumulation will be low = slow economic growth.
- Evaluation: However, this model should be evaluated; for example, it focuses on physical investment only and ignores other sources of investment.
How does foreign currency gap influence economic development?
- some developing and emerging economies face a shortage of foreign currency
- since their earnings from exports are quite low, or world oil prices have increased or they have large international debts on terms that they cannot afford to repay
e.g if interest rates increase.
How does capital flight influence economic development?
The owners of any extra income that could be saved and therefore used for investment often withdraw their money from the country in search of higher returns abroad.