Understanding Development

This section explains understanding development and provide an overview of global development and classification methods. Understanding these concepts is essential for analysing global inequalities and how they impact different regions of the world. The level of development of a country indicates how economically, socially, culturally, or technologically advanced it is. Over time, the way countries are classified has evolved to reflect global changes more accurately.

The Brandt Line

Historically, the world was divided using the Brandt Line, which separated the wealthier Global North from the poorer Global South. However, this classification is now considered too simplistic. Over the past few decades, countries such as China and India have experienced rapid economic growth and can no longer be classified as "poor" in the traditional sense.

The World Bank Classification

Today, the World Bank categorises countries based on Gross National Income (GNI) per capita, which measures the average income of a country's citizens. The categories are:

• Low-Income Countries (LICs) – GNI per capita of $1,045 or less, e.g. Chad, Ethiopia.
• Middle-Income Countries (MICs) – GNI per capita of between $1,046 and $12,695, e.g. Mexico, Iraq.
• High-Income Countries (HICs) – GNI per capita of $12,696 or more, e.g. Germany, USA.

Measuring Development

Development can be measured using a combination of economic and social indicators. Some of the most commonly used measures include:

Human Development Index (HDI)

The HDI is one of the best indicators of development, as it considers both economic and social factors. It is calculated using three main components:

• Life expectancy – a measure of health and well-being.
• Education levels – including literacy rates and average years of schooling.
• Income levels – based on GNI per capita.

Other Measures of Development

The Demographic Transition Model (DTM) and Development

The Demographic Transition Model (DTM) explains how populations change over time. It consists of five stages:

1. Stage 1 (e.g. isolated tribal communities) – High birth and death rates, resulting in a low, stable population.
2. Stage 2 – Death rates fall due to improvements in healthcare and sanitation, causing rapid population growth.
3. Stage 3 – Birth rates decline as education and contraceptive use improve, slowing population growth.
4. Stage 4 – Both birth and death rates are low, leading to a stable population.
5. Stage 5 (e.g. Germany, Japan) – Birth rates drop below death rates, leading to an ageing population and potential decline.

Advantages and Limitations of Development Indicators

Each measure of development has strengths and weaknesses:

• Economic measures (e.g. GNI per capita) provide useful insights but do not reflect social aspects such as quality of life or inequalities within a country.
• Social indicators (e.g. literacy rate, infant mortality rate) are useful for assessing well-being but may not show the full economic picture.
• HDI is considered a balanced measure, but it does not account for inequalities within a country.

Factors Influencing Global Development

Several factors contribute to variations in development between countries:

• Historical factors – Colonial history may have impacted long-term economic stability.
• Environmental factors – Natural disasters, climate, and access to resources influence development.
• Political factors – Stability, governance, and policies play a crucial role in economic growth.
• Economic factors – Trade, industrialisation, and foreign investment affect a country's wealth.
• Social factors – Education, healthcare, and equality impact a country's development potential.

Consequences of Uneven Development

Development is not evenly distributed across the world, leading to significant disparities in health, wealth, and migration.

Health Disparities

• In LICs, many people lack access to safe drinking water and sanitation, leading to higher rates of disease and lower life expectancy.
• In HICs, well-developed healthcare systems and clean water supplies result in higher life expectancy and better health outcomes.

Wealth Disparities

• There are vast inequalities in income distribution worldwide.
• The richest 10% of the global population controls 52% of global income, while the poorest 50% receives just 8%.

Migration Trends

• Uneven development drives higher rates of migration as people seek better opportunities.
• Push factors include poverty, conflict, and natural disasters, whereas pull factors include better job opportunities and higher living standards in wealthier countries.