Can Development Be Measured by Economic Indexes Alone ? (detailed Plan)

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History / Geography

Can development be measured by economic indexes alone ? (detailed plan)

In order to answer the question, we first need to define what we mean by development:

-Economic sense of the word (GDP, GNP, economic growth, etc…)

-Quality of life (enough food, hospitals, education)

-Politics, Religion, Human Rights (this is seen from a European/American point of view, seen from other countries, this may not come into account)

-Ecological Sustainability

Basing ourselves solely on this definition, we can already answer the question: no. Though, it is necessary to moderate what we have just said. These four categories are intertwined and can have effects on one another; so what is measured by economic indexes will also reflect the other concepts of the word development.

I) MEDC More Economically Developed Countries

These countries usually possess a high GNP/GDP:

United States: 24,700 per capita (ranked 2nd)

Luxembourg: 22,600 per capita (ranked 5th)

France: 18,200 per capita (ranked 14th)

SOURCE: 1995 CIA WORLD FACTBOOK

A low unemployment rate (usually), a high life expectancy:

http://www.immigration-usa.com/wfb/1995/rankings/life_expectancy_years_1.html

and a high level of literacy.

Agree with the Declaration of Human Rights, undenominationalism, have a form of government where all citizens are equal and possess the same rights.

Most of them are working hard on ecological sustainability (i.e.: Kyoto treaty, G8, etc…).

In all appearances, these are developed countries, but still in these countries you will find a small percentage of the population unable to read, feed or shelter themselves. Even in developed countries there are regions of extreme poverty, development is not spread homogeneously, this is the [quart monde].

This part of the country is not reflected in the economic indexes.

II) LEDC Less Economically Developed Countries

In this category we can still separate these countries under different sections.

Their economy is often in a bad state (hence their name), literacy is low, most