Developing Nation Measure Of Development Nature Of Development

The term 'developing' is often taken as a short-cut for economic development, but also relates to social development, that is, other parameters that could be considered positive for society (education, health, life expectancy, etc.)

One measures the development of a country with statistical indexes such as income per inhabitant, the rate of illiteracy, and access to water. The UN then puts forth a ranking for these lists of statistics, to create, for example, a "social development indicator" of a country.

Developing nations are in general countries that have not achieved a significant degree of industrialization relative to their populations, and which have a low standard of living. There is a strong correlation between this status and high population growth.

2 Nature of development

Even though a good part of the world seems to aspire to development, the term itself is criticized by those who think it is too centered on Western countries. The term implies a direction and a movement that the countries must follow; it implies an inferiority of the developing countries.

The terms utilized when discussing 'developing nations' refer to the intent and to the constructs of those who utilize these terms. Other terms sometimes used are lesser developed countries or less [economically] developed countries (LDCs/LEDCs); underdeveloped nations or undeveloped nations; third world nations; the South; or non-industrialized nations. Conversely, the opposite end of the spectrum is termed developed nations, more economically developed countries (MEDCs), first world nations, or industrialized nations.

The United Nations allows each nation to decide for itself whether it will be designated as "undeveloped" or "developing" (though many economists and other observers ignore the UN rule about self-designation).

To moderate the euphemistic aspect of the word "developing", international organisations have started to use the term " least developed countries" (LLDCs) for the very poorest nations which can in no sense be regarded as developing. That is, LLDCs are the poorest subset of LDCs.

The concept of the developing nation is found, under one term or another, in numerous theoretical systems having diverse orientations -- for example, theories of decolonization, liberation theology, marxism, anti-imperialism, and political economy.

3 Sources of (under)development

According different theories, sources of underdevelopment, or mal-development include:

4 Typology and names of countries

There are at least four types of nations:

Developed nations ( CanadaCanada historically the Dominion of Canada is the second-largest, and northernmost, country in the world. It is a decentralized federation of 10 provinces and 3 territories, governed as a constitutional monarchy, and formed in 1867 through an act of Confe, United StatesThe United States of America also referred to as the United States U. America ¹ or the States is a federal republic in central North America, stretching from the Atlantic in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west. It shares land borders with Canada in, European Union membersFor other uses, see EU (disambiguation). The European Union or EU is a supranational organisation of 25 European states. It was established with that name by the Treaty on European Union (commonly known as the Maastricht Treaty) in 1992 but many aspects o, JapanJapan (, Nippon/Nihon literally "the origin of the sun") is a country in East Asia situated on a chain of islands east of the Asian continent on the western edge of the Pacific Ocean. The largest of these islands are, from north to south, Hokkaido , Honsh, etc.)
Nations with a developing economy ( ChinaThis article is on the geographic and cultural entity. For other meanings, see China (disambiguation). China ( Traditional Chinese: , Simplified Chinese: , Hanyu Pinyin: Zhongguo, Wade-Giles: Chung-kuo) is a country in continental East Asia with some oute, India, Brazil, South Africa, Mexico, etc.)
Developing nations (most countries in Asia, Africa, South America, Central America, and the Caribbean)
Underdeveloped or mal-developed nations (other countries in Asia, Africa, and South America, etc.)

The term 'developing nation' is not a label to assign a specific, similar type of problem. One designates these nations depends on the angle at which one approaches them, and according to the solutions envisoned to solve their problems. Each one of these terms has meanings beyond its first appearance:

Third World

The term was first for the first time by demographer Alfred Sauvy and refers to the Third Estate. The Third world does not comprise the nations of the liberal West nor of the Soviet block.

Countries of The North and The South

The world could be conveniently divided in northern and southern hemispheres. However, this division does not meet world realities (Australia and New Zealand are countries of the South but both are not underdeveloped. On the contrary, China and India are part of the northern hemisphere).

Rich and poor countries

This notion is based on income per inhabitant, a conception employed by the World Bank. This distinction only reflects the average wealth of a country and not the actual situation of its inhabitants.

Industrialized and non-industrialized countries

Most countries that are currently being industrialized or are in advanced phases of industrialization, also have characteristics of a post-industrial economy .

5 See Also

finance

<Hide>

Home > Developing nation

1 Measure of development