Transcript developing countries

DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
Developing Countries
A developing country is a country with a
low standard of living, a limited industrial
base and quite a low
Human Development Index.
Development usually implies a modern
physical and institutional infrastructure and
a detachment from sectors such as
agriculture and natural resources
extraction.
Developed Countries
A developed country can generally rely
on economic systems based on steady
economic growth and can boast a high
standard of living.
Degree of Development
• The degree of development of a country
can be measured through:
• statistical indexes like HDI – which
considers aspects such as life expectancy,
education, health care, etc. (United
Nations)
• Income per capita (referred to
GDP,Gross Domestic Product) which turns
out to be rather reductive.
Developing Countries:
Reasons for limited development
• Low savings (with consequent low
investment)
• Over-population
• Intristic factors (such as attitude and
culture of the people; high corruption)
• Extrinsic factors (geopolitical or
commercial interests, historical and
cultural influences, situations of deficit and
indebtedness).
Developing Countries:
Categories of Development
1) developed countries and their
dependencies (e.g. former colonies);
2) countries with quite a steady development
over a long period (e.g. China, Mexico,
India, Brazil, South Africa, Egypt, much of
South America, Thailand, former Warsaw
Pact countries, etc.);
3) countries experiencing prolonged political
problems (e.g. civil war or dictatorships).
Developing Countries:
Other Definitions
• Third World: a definition which excludes the
nations of the liberal West (i.e. the First World)
and the former Soviet Bloc (the Second World).
During the 20th century many Third world
countries have become independent of their
colonial ties;
• The North and the South: as most developing
countries are to the South of most developed
countries. The definition is not correct (e.g. see
Australia and New Zealand).
Developing Countries:
Other Definitions
• Rich and Poor Countries: it originates
from a viewpoint which emphasises wealth
and income per capita;
• Industrialised / non-industrialised
countries.