Transcript Development - Western Springs College

Demonstrate Geographic Understanding
of Differences in Development External
4 credits
 Characteristics of development
 Ways development is perceived
 Ways development is measured and
problems with measurement
 Natural factors that affect degree of
development
 Cultural factors that affect degree of
development
 Strategies for reducing differences in
development
Development Disparities
between 2 countries: USA
and AFGHANISTAN
USA
Write down what you know about the wealth of
America.
AFGHANISTAN
Write down what you know about the poverty of
Afghanistan.
USA Today
Richest country and greatest military power in the
world. However, 30m live below the poverty line.
USA is known as “the melting pot” with immigration
encouraged (black Africans, Hispanics etc) , and 1964
law outlawed racism and yet racism is still very evident.
Lowest point Death valley -86m and highest point Mt
McKinley 6,194m.
Hollywood movies.
Gender inequality index 0.256.
Industry produces carbon emmissions of 18 tonnes per
capita.
After 9/11, invaded Afghanistan Oct 2001.
Afghanistan Today
26m people, looks like Mars from the air-rocks and
dust. 25% of dust is donkey dung!Carbon emmission 0.
Kabul 5m (2001=1m) Average age is 16years old.
Aid money has made some wealthy. Others live without
electricity, running water etc. Aid is 90% of countries
GDP. Has given them a world class internet and mobile
phone system.
2001 USA invaded, 90% buildings damaged or
destroyed. It was a beautiful city.
Gender inequality index 0.712
Kiwis living there include Chris carter working for UN.
“Under the Taliban there was security and no food,
under Kharzi, there there is food and no security”
What is Development?
 The term "development" is often referred to as
economic development or wealth. This does not
always reflect the distribution of this wealth among
the people.
 In addition to purely economic characteristics are
often considered social dimensions of development
or quality of life. Development always has a direction.
If this direction is positive, then we speak of
progress, if negative, of regression.
http:// w.youtube.com/watch?v=KFZz6ICzpjIww
Happy planet index (USA 37.3 Afghanistan 36.8)
 Press freedom Index (USA46 Afghanistan 128)(NZ9)
 Global gender gap index (USA 23 Pakistan 135 of 136
countries) (NZ 7)
Socio-economic development
Currently, the main purpose of socio-economic development in
most countries is to improve the quality of life. To do so
involves improving three major components:
1 increase incomes,
2 improve health and
3 increase its level of education.
This creates conditions conducive to the growth of self-esteem
and human dignity of the people as a result of the formation
of social, political, economic and institutional systems that
give a degree of freedom to the people.
Sustainable development is also becoming important.
How is development perceived?
Free market economies (Capitalism)
Rostow eg USA
Planned/Socialist economies (Communism/Marxism)
eg China
Sustainable development/Schumacher/
People centred
eg Vietnam
Ways in which development can
be perceived: Rostow model
This is the American view of
DEVELOPMENT.
This shows how economic growth is basic
to development. A country will not
develop unless specialisation and
industrial development, mass production,
production of a surplus and trade
occur.eg the 1887 gold rush in California,
industrial use in phones etc and mass
production and sale worldwide providing
income to buy other countries goods and
invest in health etc. They also think that
Less developed countries should strive for
economic /industrial growth to develop.
Alternative views would be
1. to provide basic needs like health, help
women, men and indigenous people to
develop their own small-scale industries
that encourage sustainable
development. eg Afghanistan growing
safron that has a high price in world
markets.
2. Communist viewpoint has not worked in
Afghanistan. Based on equality for
owners and workers in productive
industries.
How is Development Measured:
Objective Indicators
USA
&
HDI
0.937
GDP
$52,000
Afghanistan
0.374
$1,000
per head
Literacy
99%
People/
520
per doctor
Life
75/80
expectancy
Infant deaths 8
per 1000 births
Media freedom 47
index
24%
1660
63/65
257
150
Energy consumption
per capita 7039 kilograms of oil equivalent (650% higher than
Afghanistan)
11 kilograms oil equivalent.
World Rankings 2010/2012
USA
Afghanistan
GDP
World ranking
2/1
177/106
12/3
177/175
HDI
World ranking
Objective Indicators are statistically measured and may
mask differences
within each country.
USA - % below poverty line (1992)
Total
14.5
Delaware 7.6
Mississippi 24.5
Afghanistan – Adult literacy
Total
24%
Urban
54%
Rural
18%
Also, statistics may not include illegal income eg $4 billion from
opium trade in Afghanistan. USA has between 7 – 20 million illegal
immigrants whose income never appears in the official statistics.
USA today has 700,000 homeless people. USA statistics includes
$700billion food industry and half of them are overweight. Weight
loss industry adds $32billion to the GDP.
War torn Afghanistan finds collection of statistics difficult.
Objective indicators are only as good as the quality
of statistics gathered.
No comprehensive census based upon
systematically sound methods has ever been
taken in Afghanistan for example. 2004 was
the first development report written for
Afghanistan. It has also not been included in
the HDI since 1996 due to lack of available
data.
The United States on the other hand can
afford to gather statistical data and has been
politically stable enough to publish this
information.
LORENZ CURVE shows the distribution of
income
The lowest-income household in the United
States oday is likely to be a black woman over
65 years of age who lives alone somewhere in
the South and has fewer than nine years of
elementary school education.
The highest-income household in the United
States today is likely to be a college-educated
white married couple between 45 and 54 years
of age living together with two children
somewhere in the
Education is the
single biggest
factor affecting
household income
distribution,
What objective indicators tell us about development.
Afghanistan is shown to be less developed. GDP $466 per head.
Afghanistan 177th in world according to GDP and HDI. GDP is low
BECAUSE— Afghanistan has few Exports with a value of only $576m.
Exports to Pakistan 55% India 12% Iran 2% (fruit, nuts, carpets) Not
enough is earned to buy even necessities (food, oil, manufactured
goods). As a result, their standard of living is low. Imports value
$2,513m and come from Pakistan 17% China 15% Japan 12%. This
uses money that could otherwise be spent on health, education etc
GDP is also low because Afghanistan is 49% mountainous so even
though agriculture is the main industry, it is mostly subsistence and
contributes very little to development. 78% of the people work in
agriculture but it only contributes 31% to GDP.
Only 22% live in urban areas, where most industries are located. Many
do not attend school making it hard for young people to get jobs
even if there were jobs available. Youth literacy rates M 49% F 18%.
Those that live in urban areas have access to improved drinking
water(78%) meaning they are healthier and contribute more to GDP,
while only 37% in rural areas have improved drinking water, meaning
they are more susceptible to diseases and not as productive. Also,
35% of people are unemployed and so contribute nothing to GDP.
Afghanistan has minerals (iron copper gold silver in NE and emerald in
SE) but no money to develop them and they are not accessible. $57b
AID money has been pledged by other countries since 2002 but too
much conflict for development.
What objective indicators tell us about development.
USA is more developed than Afghanistan.
USA’s GDP is $52,000. USA is 12th wealthiest country in the
world according to HDI and 2nd wealthiest according to GDP
This is because USA has more investment in industries like oil
(Exxon Mobll, Texas 1st), Electronics (Hewlett Packard,
California 29th), chemicals, cars (General Motors, Detroit 20th
largest), as well as agricultural production of wheat, cattle
etc.
USA exports these products to earn more money. USA’s
exports= $ 1.024trillion (no 3 =cars) To Canada (20%),
Mexico (12%), China (6%) These fund many and varied
imports that improve the USA’s standard of living ( no 3
medicines) Imports $2 .01 trillion, from China (17%)
Canada (16%) Mexico (10%)
USA has a varied economy with services (50%) contributing
most to GDP and over 80% of population live in urban areas
where services are the main employers and industries are
located.
RECAP on Objective indicators
You know 1 What they are for both
countries
2 Their disadvantages as a
measure of development
3 What they tell you about
the degree of development of both
countries
and 4 You can illustrate an
answer with a Lorenz curve
SUBJECTIVE INDICATORS
Eg Happiness
The Adivasis of S India say their wealth=
“our community, children, unity, culture and forest”
Poverty was “discovered” after WW2 and measured in per capita
income.
However, in traditional Mexican villages, private accumulation of
wealth results in social ostracism-prestige results fromgood deeds
for the community.
North-South Map of Global Disparities
North-South Map of Global Disparities
North-South Map: Brandt ReportNort
Factors Responsible for the Global
Pattern
NATURAL: drought, flood, earthquake,
hurricane
ENVIRONMENTAL: soil types, landforms,
rainfall, minerals, location
CULTURAL: health, famine, educational
opportunities, government systems/politica
stability, language, religious groups, gender
ethnicity, colonisation, multinationals,
globalisation, trading patterns,
OTHER factors that may influence disparities
could include: global warming, Aids, Genetic
Why is USA a wealthy country?




America’s economic prosperity is founded on a number of
factors.
An exceptionally bountiful natural and cultural environment.
Political stability throughout its entire history.
Settled by people who wanted either economic prosperity or
religious freedoms.
An unshakeable patriotism, love of their country and belief in
America’s greatness.
America could only ever be wealthy. The combination of
factors that made the country what it is today were loaded
in favour of it being rich. It was and is a Land of Plenty –
how could they go wrong.
USA roads
Why is Afghanistan so poor?
Afghanistan on the other hand has had the dice
loaded against it.
 It has been at the centre of conflict one way or
another for centuries due to its location – from
Alexander the Great, the British, the Russians.
 An uncompromisingly difficult natural and cultural
environment.
 A religion which thanks to an ultra-extremist
faction, tried to take it back to the Middle Ages.
 It has been a monarchy, republic, communist state,
theocracy and finally a democratically elected
Islamic republic.
 A key export earner which is internationally illegal.
Kabul River and main ring road
Natural Factors
USA
Afghanistan
 3 coastlines for exports and
imports; Atlantic, Pacific, Gulf
of Mexico. Excellent waterways
for transport to the sea: Grt
Lakes 800kms to the Atlantic,
Mississipi River from Grt Plains
to Gulf of Mexico.
 Landlocked by 6 countries so
difficult to export and import
and only 1 river flows to the
sea via Indus R in Pakistan
 Large areas of flat land for
agriculture: Grt Plains
 Dry, continental climate,
49*C-4.9*C, 350mm rain pa
means agriculture difficult
 Mt ranges like Rocky Mts for
recreation, forestry
 Varied climates for all types of
agriculture: tundra N to
tropical S, Mediterranean W to
Sub tropical E.
 75% Mountainous nonproductive and inaccessible,
Hindu Kush over 7,000m
 Earthquakes 1998 killed
4,700, Drought 2006
affected 2.5m people making
life and subsistence difficult.
How do these Natural factors affect
the degree of development of USA/
Afghanistan.
USA
Divide
an A3 piece ofAFGHANISTAN
paper as shown
What are the natural factors?
What are the natural factors?
How natural factors
to disparities as a
2contribute
Their disadvantages
1 how easy it is to trade
2 how easy it3is to grow crops
3 how much damage is caused by
natural hazards
How natural factors
contribute of
to disparities
measure
development
1 how easy it is to trade
2 how easy it is to grow crops
3 how much damage is caused by
natural hazards
illustrate your answer with an illustrate your answer with an
annotated map
annotated map
America’s Physical
Geography
Location – USA has 3 coastlines that allow
trading with the rest of the world, wealth
is created and a more varied lifestyle.
Location – USA has such varied Climates that
all types of agriculture are possible.
USA climate varies from Maritime to Continental.
There are few extremes as in Afghanistan and
drought is rare or land is irrigated.
This means that varied land uses are possible.
Landforms- the Great Plains
This is the most fertile tract of
land of its size on the planet,
making America self-sufficient
in food in the 19th century and
the agrarian superpower in the
20th.
allow easy cheap transport
of goods and services
1
Name
the Great Lakes
4
3
2
6
5
Landforms- the Rocky Mts
Name 2 uses of the Rocky Mts
8 Geographic Regions of
USA!
Benjamin Franklin said…
“America was favoured
by nature and must one
day become a great
country, populous and
mighty”
1790s
USA: Map to show Natural Factors that encourage
development
Excellent waterways for transport
Mississippi R, Grt Lakes waterway 800kms.
location-surrounded by 3 oceans
1
Land varies from Rocky Mts W,
logging, skiing to fertile Grt Plains,
Growing wheat.
2
Climate varies from tundra in N to tropical in S
And from mediterranean in w to humid sub-tropical in E.
3 Hurricanes like Katrina
2005 killed 1,836
How natural factors contribute
to USA’s development?
Location has aided the development of the USA.
1 It has 3 coastlines (Atlantic, Pacific, Gulf of Mexico)
helped development because world trade in manufactured
and agricultural goods easy and cheap. Exports
US$1.02trillion Imports US$2,513trillion. Countries traded
with include Asian tigers like China. Large city ports like
New Orleans have dev. Trade generates overseas income
that can be used for schools, hospitals.
2 USA has flat land Great Plains, used for wheat growing
and Rocky Mts used for tourism, skiing and logging so that
everything they need and a surplus is produced here.
3 Climate varies from Tundra to Tropical, mediterranean to
sub-tropical means that all types of crops can be grown.
4 Transport of goods and minerals is easier because of
water routes like Grt Lakes 800kms for transport of iron
ore, coal, and Mississippi River network.
Afghanistan’s Physical
Geography
Location – Landlocked surrounded by 6
countries that make exporting and importing
Location
landlocked
difficult and hence a better standard of living.
Only Kabul R
flows into Indus
R and into the
sea.
Karachi, Pakistan, is Afghanistan’s
nearest seaport, almost 1,170 km away.
Location - 30-35*N makes climate harsh,
liable to drought and difficult to grow crops
Continental Climate – Hot summer and cold winters –9.4 C in
midwinter in the Hindu Kush, 49 C maximum in summer. Dry
climate – average rainfall 305mm
Continental, Dry climate – average rainfall 305mm
Climate has extreme temperature range- v. cold winters
-25’C, in midwinter in the Hindu Kush,
hot summers 45-50’C in Sistan Basin.
Also dust storms and drought. Highest recorded temp.
49.9’C Aug 2009 and coldest -52.2’C Jan 1964.
Snow for 3 months.
SW driest.
Kabul valley can get Monsoon rain.
Kabul, capital of Afghanistan. Describe its climate……..
latitude: 34 N, longitude: 069 E, elevation: 1789 m
Landforms- dominated by mountains that
make agriculture difficult and places
inaccessible.
¾ of the country
consists of
uplands
Over 40% lies
above 2,000m
The average
height of the
Hindu Kush is
4,500m
The highest
peaks are over
7,000m.
Highest=Mt Nowshak 7485m
Land slopes from NE to
SW, following Hindu Kush massif
Plains in the N and SW.
Afghanistan: Natural Factors
Landlocked by 6 countries.
Only river link to sea via Indus R in Pakistan
75% upland 40% over 2,000m and
Hindu Kush over 7,000m
Climate dry continental with hot summers 49*C
Cold winters-4.9*C rain only 350mm pa
Hindu Kush, NE, earthquakes
1998 killed 4,700
Drought 2006 affected 2.5m
How natural factors contribute
to Afghanistan’s lack of
development
1 Afghanistan landlocked by 6 countries (name them) which
has slowed development because trade is difficult. Only one
river (Kabul R) goes to sea via Pakistan, exports $576m
imports $2,513m very small cf USA. In addition, the
countries like Pakistan around them are known to shelter
Taliban and make exports and imports difficult.
2 Afghanistan mostly mts (75% and Hindu Kush over 7,000m)
slowed development because accessibility and transport
difficult, exporting products is hard
3 Climate conditions are too harsh to grow crops (49to -4.9
temp range and 350mm rain pa), instead keep goats and
sheep, yet 78% work in agriculture and contribute only 31%
to GDP
4 Sparse population (88% rural cf USA 80% urban) means no
economies of scale
Natural disasters discourage
development, especially in
Afghanistan where more people
are affected
USA
Afghanistan
Earthquakes in Hindu Kush eg
1998 killed 4,700. 9 major
quakes since 2000. Located
Tornadoes
on the Eurasian Tectonic
Volcanic eruptions eg Mt
Plate-very active.
St Helens 1980 killed
Arid/Semi-arid eg 2006 2.5m
57
people affected by poor cereal
Still erupting in 2004
crops. When rains come,
floods can cause
damage+Insect infestations.
Hurricanes eg Katrina
2005 killed 1,836
Cultural factors affect development
USA
 Democratic/Politically
stable since 1788
Elections every 4 yrs
 Exports $1.02trillion
 50% in service industries
 Gender equality -1920
women given the vote in
USA. First woman in
congress in 1916 was
Jeannette Rankin.Today
congress has 259 women.
 Median household
income $52,000pa
 Educated:25%Batchelors
Afghanistan
 It has had Monarchy, Republic
Communism, Theocracy/Taliban
Islamic republic/ democracy
 Years of political instability and civil
war
 Gender inequalities
 Refugees 5m to Pakistan during
Russian invasion
 Exports $276m
 Median household income $1,000pa
 78% work in agriculture, but only
31% of GDP
 35%unemployed
 60% have mental disorders
 $5.7billion aid pledged but unused
Cultural Facts
USA
1 Population 300m
2 Av family size 2
children
3 Race White-80%
African/American-13%
Asian-4% Native
american-1%
Hawaiin-0.2%
Mixed-1.8%
Afghanistan
1 Population 22m
2 Average family
size:7.2 children
3 Race Pushtan-42%
Tajik-27%
Uzbek-9%
Aimak-4%
Turkmen-3%
4 Religion 99% muslim
USA is developed industrially,
Afghanistan lacks industry development
USA
Main industries:
petroleum, steel,
motor vehicles,
aerospace,
telecommunication
s, chemicals,
electronics, food
processing,
consumer goods,
timber, mining,
arms
Afghanistan
Supplies 93% of the
worlds opium
Main industries:
agricultural
processing, carpet
manufacture,
production of dried
fruit.
Has oil and gas but
not extracted in
times of conflict.
USA has a stable political history
The Founding Fathers of USA Democracy
George
Thomas
John
Benjamin
Washington
Jefferson
Adams
Franklin
Amongst the men who decided on the form of this new state, how it
would be governed and politically organised, were some of the most
intelligent and progressive thinkers of the time. They shared a
commitment to the principle of natural freedom and equality. The
United States Constitution, adopted in 1788, provided for elected
government and protected civil rights and liberties.
The president serves a four-year term and
may be elected to the office no more than
twice.
Afghanistan has a History of Conflict
Monarchy: The longest period of stability in Afghanistan was
between 1933 and 1973, when the country was under the rule of
King Zahir Shah.
Republic: The monarchy was overthrown in 1973 by the king’s
brother-in law, Sardar Daoud Khan.
Communism: Daoud Khan and his entire family were murdered in
1978, when the communist People's Democratic Party of
Afghanistan launched a coup and took over the government.
USSR invades 1978.
As part of a Cold War strategy, in 1979 the United States (under
President Jimmy Carter) began covertly to fund and train antigovernment Mujahideen forces through the Pakistani secret
service known as Inter Services Intelligence (ISI).
Soviets withdrew 1989 The Soviet occupation resulted in the
killings of at least 600,000 to 2 million Afghan civilians. Over 5
million Afghans fled their country to Pakistan, Iran and other
parts of the world. Americans lose interest.
Fighting continued among the victorious Mujahideen factions,
eventually giving rise to a state of warlordism. The most serious
fighting during this period occurred in 1994, when over 10,000
people were killed in Kabul alone. The chaos and corruption that
dominated post-Soviet Afghanistan in turn spawned the rise of
the Taliban.
The Taliban (a fundamentalist Sunni Muslim and ethnic Pashtun
movement) developed as a politico-religious force, and
eventually seized Kabul in 1996. By the end of 2000, the Taliban
were able to capture 95% of the country. The Taliban sought to
impose a very strict interpretation of Islamic law.
Following the September 11, 2001 attacks, the United States
launched Operation Enduring Freedom, a military campaign to
destroy the al-Qaeda terrorist training camps inside Afghanistan.
The US military also threatened to overthrow the Taliban
government for refusing to hand-over Osama bin Laden and his
al-Qaida followers.
President Hamid Karzai elected first in 2004 and again in 2009.The
USA: Cultural Factors.
Political stability since 1788 constitution
Industries cars Detroit
George Washington, election every 4 yrs
Industries electronics
1
Silicone Valley
Median household income $52,000pa
NY $56,000 Mississippi $37,500
25% have batchelors degree,
27% NY, 16% mississippi.
Mining iron
Appalachian Mts 2
3
Industries
oil BP
How cultural factors contribute to
disparities
Government/Political Stability contributes to the development of USA.
USA has been a representative democracy since 1788. To remain in power,
government is elected every 4 yrs and they try to please the people and
encourage growth of industry, agriculture and increase prosperity to gain
votes eg recent health reforms by Obama eg helping car industry in Detroit to
survive depression and promoting educational success for all(25% have
Bachelors degree) USA’s GDP is $52,000. USA is 12th wealthiest country in the
world according to HDI and 2nd wealthiest according to GDP This is because
USA has more investment in industries like electronics, chemicals, cars,
Agricultural production of wheat, cattle and exports these products. USA’s
exports= $1.024trillion, to Canada (20%), Mexico (12%), China (6%) These
fund many and varied imports that improve the USA’s standard of living eg
Imports $2 .01 trillion, China (17%) Canada (16%) Mexico (10%)
USA has a varied economy with services 50% contributing most to GDP and
over 80% of population live in urban areas where services are the main
employers.
Afghanistan: Cultural Factors
Politically unstable since Alex the Great.
Monarchy 1933-1973,King Zahir Shah,
communist rule 1978, USSR 1979-1989,
Theocracy Taliban 1996-2004,
Democratically elected Islamic Republic 2004
And 2009 elected Hamid Karzai.
During soviet occupation,
over 5m refugees fled to Pakistan
Produce 93% worlds opium illegally.
Other produce carpets, dried fruit.
Has minerals oil etc
but not extracted due to war
How cultural factors contribute
to disparities
Afghanistans development has been held back to 177th in the world by
GDP and HDI, because of the political situation.
Afghanistan unstable since late 1700’s absolute monarchy(King Zahn
1933-1972) put his own interests before the country, hindering
growth, PDPA promoted womens rights, USSR invaded causing conflict
with American backed Mujihadeen. Stopped development and cost
money that might have gone into development and 5m educated
refugees fled the country. War also killed males. 1996 Taliban put
restrictions on women and technology (eg lack of investment in clean
drinking water in rural areas where only 37% have clean water, urban
areas have more investment and 78% have clean water) hindering
development further. Today Islamic democracy but still corrupt and
busy fighting Taliban with US, Aust, UK troops, destroying any hope of
growth. $57m of aid has been pledged since 2002 but has not been
used because of the situation. Lack of imports and exports. GDP per
capita only $466 cf USA $52,000. Also, the lack of education, the
position of women etc Youth literacy rates show that males 49%
literate, females 18% literate. How can growth occur when half of the
population are not formally educated?
This famous cover of the National Geographic magazine of June 1985 shows
a female Afghan refugee fleeing the then Soviet Union's invasion of
Afghanistan
The role of women holds back development in Afghanistan.
“In reality Afghan women are still burning voraciously in the inferno
of fundamentalism. Women are exchanged with dogs, girls are
gang-raped, men in the Jehadi-dominated society kill their wives
viciously and violently, burn them by throwing hot water, cut off
their nose and toes, innocent women are stoned to death and
other heinous crimes are being committed”.
1929
King Amanullah tried to introduce gender reform.
1964 constitution enfranchised women and gave them right to
education and freedom to work.
1978 their freedom was ended by the conservative
mujihadin/taliban.
Only 8% of working women receive an income.
Strategies for reducing differences in
development
Countries need leaders who are committed to achieving growth.
"We chose to focus on growth because we think that it is a necessary
condition for the achievement of a wide range of objectives that people and
societies care about. One of them is obviously poverty reduction, but there
are even deeper ones. Health, productive employment, the opportunity to
be creative, all kinds of things that really matter to people seem to depend
heavily on the availability of resources and income, so that they don't spend
most of their time desperately trying to keep their families alive."
Michael Spence, Chair, Commission on Growth and Development
 Policymakers zero in on two areas to grow Afghanistan's
$11.4 billion economy: agriculture and mining.
 Mining is currently a $52 million a year industry – less than
1 percent of the economy. But a few big-name projects
highlight its potential. In a deal with the Chinese in 2007, the
Aynak copper mine will bring in $1 billion of annual revenue
for Kabul. And bids were due Feb. 15 to exploit Hajigak, a
massive iron ore deposit.
 "That's estimated to bring in up to $3 billion a year in
government revenues for centuries," says Craig Steffensen,
Afghanistan country director for the Asian Development
Bank. "I think the mining sector is this magic bullet that
everyone is looking for to sustain things without [foreign
donors] having to cover costs until kingdom come."
 Of course, magic bullets are rare. Western investors have
hesitated to enter Afghanistan because of an uncertain
regulatory environment, corruption, lack of transparency, and
lack of security, says James Yeager, an American geologist
who advised the Afghan Ministry of Mines.
Other projects:
 Marriott Hotels invested $80 million to build a hotel and
expand operations into Afghanistan. Construction started last
spring and is expected to be completed by the end of 2010,
according to a Marriott press release.
 Another document shows that David Murdock, chairman of
Dole Foods Company, visited Afghanistan in 2007 to discuss a
potential Afghan presence for the company.
The country’s progress is still largely dependent on foreign aid.
 One such program lending a hand to the country is the Kabul
International Ag Fair. The fair – a project assisted by USAID –
ran yearly from 2007-2009, attracting 40,000 to 60,000
visitors through two days. According to the Ag Fair’s website,
the festival’s even attracted an American sponsor – the Afghan
affiliate of U.S. based Coca-Cola.
 Anderson said the largest progress is in the urban and stable
areas of the North, with the rest of the country still in need of
attention.
 Afghanistan’s economy saw record real GDP growth in
2009/10 at 22.5 percent. Since 2002/03 the country has seen
average growth rates in the double digits, but with great volatility
because of its heavy reliance on agriculture, which is subject to
weather fluctuations. Even with an uncertain and deteriorating
security situation, strong output was driven by increased donor
spending – a 24 percent increase in core budget donor grants and
about US$ 4 billion in off-budget donor funding – and recovery
from the severe drought of 2008/09. Last year’s harvest led to
agriculture output growth of 36 percent (constant 2002/03 prices)
and the non-agricultural component of 14 percent.
 However there are a number of economic indicators
suggesting that Afghanistan is on an unsustainable growth
path. The country is highly aid dependent with foreign aid
disbursements of 47 percent of GDP in 2008/09. Only little is
produced for export purposes while the country depends heavily on
imports for reconstruction and food. Another major concern is the
fact that gross revenues from opium trade are estimated to be
equivalent to as much as third of measured GDP (opium is not
reflected in the official GDP numbers). Afghanistan is the source of
93 percent of the world’s opium production and the area under
cultivation more than doubled from 2003 to 2007.
United States Agency for International Development the agency chartered
a three-year, $50 million program intended to train under 25yr olds. Made
no difference.
So, has the United States utterly wasted its aid? Karl Eikenberry, former US
ambassador and military commander in Afghanistan, notes that the state
has more roads and schools than ever before. More people in Kabul have
electricity. “There have been impressive gains in education and health,”
Eikenberry said. “Transportation in Afghanistan is better than at any time in
history.” However, even after more than a decade of intensive
development aid from not only the United States but dozens of other
nations, Afghanistan still ranks near the bottom on per capita income,
literacy, life expectancy, electricity usage, Internet penetration, and on the
World Bank’s broad Human Development Index.
Contractors frequently overbill the government—in one case by more than
$500 million “a complete lack of accountability”
One five-year, $150 million plan, was to create new economic opportunities
for the nation’s opium-poppy farmers that would dissuade them from the
illicit trade. During the course of this program, the UN said Afghanistan’s
opium crop actually surged by sixty-one percent. The nation still produces
90 percent of the world’s opium.
 July 2013 The Afghan government on Sunday unveiled a new package
of incentives to attract desperately needed investment to the war-torn
country before NATO withdraws next year, especially in industry,
construction, agriculture and mining. The incentives include providing
land at almost no cost to industrialists, seven-year tax exemptions for
factory owners and 10-year, low-interest loans for farmers.
 They also offer one-year, multiple entry visas to foreign investors.
EXAM HINTS:
You must explain HOW the information you give on the factor chosen
contributes to development or lack of development and give specific
detail on the effect.
Eg
political stability (USA since 1788 constitution,
democratic govt. elected every 4 yrs) Contributes
to high level of dev. because 1 elected
governments try to please the people who will
then re-elect them and this encourages growth of
industry, agriculture and increase prosperity to
gain votes eg recent health reforms by Obama eg
helping car industry in Detroit to survive
depression and promoting educational success for
all(25% have Bachelors degree)
2 political stability in USA enables industries like
electronics(silicon valley, california), chemicals,
cars, to grow large and gain economies of scale.
Political continuity and peace enabled investment
in aerospace, NASA, Cape Canaveral space
centre.
Also, mass production of agricultural products like
wheat, cattle and thus creates a surplus for
export. USA’s exports= $1.024trillion, to Canada
(20%), Mexico (12%), China (6%) These make
many and varied imports possible that improve
the USA’s standard of living eg Imports $2 .01
trillion, China (17%) Canada (16%) Mexico
(10%) Stability allows relations with other
countries to develop.The result is that USA is 2nd
in world according to GDP, 12th HDI.
The next 2 slides look at gender and health impacts
on development.
Gender comparison USA and Afghanistan
57% females
married by
15yrs old. 85%
live in rural
areas but have
no land.
Enfranchised
1964 but
Taliban ended
this.
1929 women given
ofvote, ist woman in
Congress Jeannette
Rankin 1916.
Effects on
agric. and
ind. prod.and
dev. Bad.
Farming
subsistence
and 80-90%
work in
informal
sector.
Effects on health
/life expectancy
42yrs
Effects on education
only 12.6% literate.
Effects on lack of
Development.
GDP $1000pa
Effects on ag/ind
Effects on life
Effects on
prod: 75% of working expectancy 80yrs GDP
age women work. and 99% literate.
$52,000
Health comparison USA Afghanistan
Afghanistan unhealthy
Production low
GDP $1000pa
25% children die by 5yrs old
And exports only $276m
Due to preventable diseases
Only 7.4% GDP spent on health.
Like measels.
USA only 0.8% of children
Production high, 50%
die by 5yrs old.
work in services and
GDP $52,000pa
although only 3% work in agric.,
one product, corn, is worth
$24.4billion pa. 16% GDP
spent on health.