Transcript Development
What is Development? What does it mean to be rich and how do you get rich? Jared Diamond’s (Yalu’s) question • Eurasian superiority of plants and animals for domestication • orientation of continents Jeffrey Sachs on Africa • tropical climate and disease • lack of navigable rivers David Landes’ explanation • culture Example of China • After 1433 Chinese emperor abandons the “Treasure Fleet”, leaving trade and exploration Modernization theory • on different points of the same path undeveloped Semi-developed Highly developed Dependency theory • Europe’s early advantage continues to stunt the development of poorer countries • trapped providing resources and agricultural goods to rich world • scissors effect industrial goods resources and agricultural goods Counter example: the “tigers”, etc • Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore • then others--Thailand, Philippines, Indonesia, Chile, Ireland • India, China how did they do this? • industrialization by little steps • example of Japanese car makers • toys and textiles • Initially protected industries, quickly subjected to competition for the world market—”export-led growth” What is Development? • • • • • Measuring development: GDP PPP GNH HDI • includes life expectancy, literacy, and schooling as well as income World HDI rankings • • • • • • • • • • Norway Iceland Australia Luxembourg Canada Sweden Switzerland Ireland Belgium United States Is the world getting richer or poorer? • Richer • Long term global welfare improving with respect to average life expectancy, infant mortality, income, calories consumed, etc. • But some regions have experienced declines in recent years Sub-Saharan Africa the exception Moreover, global inequality increased • 1948 developing world per capita GDP-$100, US--$1,600 • 1993 developing world—$1,100, US-$25,000 • Similar trends in child mortality, education, etc. What about within country inequality? What is the role of AID to the poor countries • • • • American aid: first or second biggest contributor low percentage--.1-.2% of GDP often given to mid-income countries-politics Millennium Development Goals • by 2015 halve the number living on $1 a day • universal primary ed • eliminate gender discrimination in 1ary and 2ndry ed • reduce by 2/3 child mortality, maternal • reverse spread of AIDS, malaria • halve those w/o access to clean water Millennium Development Goals • raise North’s contribution to .7% GNP • Jeffrey Sachs’ position: • 1000s of underfinanced programs in health, education, infrastructure • critics: there is no capacity to productively spend large increases Debt Relief Since mid 90s, a major issue, with roughly 30 countries receiving relief Remittances • More important than aid?--over $100 billion, especially to Mexico, Philippines, and India Women in the Muslim world • Places w/ low female ed., rights, are poor • Turkey under Ataturk • 1920s women gained basic rights , and was first country with women on high court, and one of the first with a female PM • Tunisia with independence 1956 • Banned polygamy, marriage age to 17, consent for marriage, women can request divorce, etc. • Tunisia’s better literacy, lower birth rates have propelled it past neighboring countries • Qatar—since ’99 women and men vote and run, majority college students female • Kuwait—voting in 2005 Cont’d • Saudi Arabia • Women treated as minors • But playing increasing role in politics, ed, and business • Afghanistan • Less than 20% female literacy • Ed improved since Taliban gone, but minimally funded • Iraq • The status of women could deteriorate since fall of Saddam’s secular regime Micro lending • Grameen Bank has expanded since 70’s— has 6 million borrowers in Bangladesh, 96% women Trade more than aid • developed countries still protect their markets from poor country goods--sugar, cotton, tobacco, etc.