introduction to development economics
Understand the causes and impacts of differences in income; productivity; population growth; size of population; size of industrial sectors; saving and investment and education and healthcare
INTRO: The study of Economic Development is an important sub specialism within economics since it aims to identify levels of economic development (as opposed to growth!) and explain how economic development can be furthered around the world. Simply stated economic development is the measure of how far a country meets the needs of its people. For example can it provide a decent standard of living and freedoms to its people. Does it produce sufficient basics wants, education, healthcare and other outcomes that indicate a high level of human happiness?
- Find a definition of Economic Development and contrast this with what you understand by Economic Growth, are they the same thing?
- Does one cause the other?
- What is the cause effect relationship?
ACTIVITY 1: Watch the video below to see what differences in wealth and the ideas about rich and poor countries really mean.
ACTIVITY 1. The countries highlighted above represent a diverse number of Developing (LEDC's), Newly Industrialized (NIC's) and Developed Countries (MEDC's). The exact definitions and criteria for these labels is imprecise and largely rests upon other characteristics that are quantitative in nature. Meaning that they can be represented through statistical data. Ahead of studying this unit on development economics you will research a country from the above group and familiarize yourself with this data for a specific country. You will become a specialist in this countries 'economic development indicators'. You should download the template below for your country and complete research to create a country profile card (this will be used in a later lesson). You should gather the data using the websites at the bottom of the page.
| country_profile_template.docx |
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PROFILING LEVELS OF economic development |
Objectives: Identify characteristics of countries that have similiar levels of develoment
Be able to analyse the similarities and differences using Excel
Be able to demonstrate the similarites and differences through an infographic using tables and graphs and other data
Suggest reasons for why some countries are more developed than others on a mind-map.
Be able to analyse the similarities and differences using Excel
Be able to demonstrate the similarites and differences through an infographic using tables and graphs and other data
Suggest reasons for why some countries are more developed than others on a mind-map.
| development_comparison_table_sheet.xlsx |