6 Development Dilemmas

Development Dilemmas
1. How and why do countries develop in different ways?
Definitions of development vary as do attempts to measure it.

#he Development $ap: The difference between the richest and poorest countries in the world

There remains a large gap between the level of development of the most developed and least developed countries. Case Study: Uganda, su!"Saharan frican Country

6 Development Dilemmas

How might the development gap be closed?

Countries can develop in ways that bring different effects to different regions? hy are some parts of a country richer than others? !ariations in resources: "atural resources such as oil can improve wealth !ariations in soil fertility: #or good crop growth

6 Development Dilemmas
!ariations in types of economic activity: $etter paid% highly s&illed 'obs are often concentrated in certain places Distance from coast ( trading centres: )solation can affect investment and 'obs *overnment policies: Can attract investment to certain areas +ural or urban: ,ccess to 'obs% healthcare or education "atural Ha-ards: .ome areas may be prone to flooding or earth/ua&es Civil ar: .ome areas may be less developed as there is civil war there hat are their &ey characteristics?

hat is the 0urban core1 and 0rural periphery1?

Case Study: %ndia !arying regional development Ur!an Core The larger cities have the best transport% communication and trade lin&s. 2arge 0#rans (ational Companies 3T"Cs4 choose to locate in the cities as they have a large wor&force and better infrastructure. 6eople move here for 'obs and as wor&ers earn money they spend. This creates new 'obs improving the economy. This is called the 0multiplier effect). &ural 'eriphery )solated rural areas have few transport and communication lin&s. T"Cs don not often invest there so few 'obs are created. 5any young people leave to find wor& in the cities. This 'ust leaves the very young and elderly. The productivity of the land can reduce. 2iteracy levels are very low. 5ost children have to help with farm wor& as families are so poor. This means they cannot go to school and get an education and better paid 'ob. 5ost women marry early and birth rates are high. omen also have the lowest levels of literacy as girls are e7pected to help with household tas&s li&e collecting firewood. These factors can create a 0cycle of poverty1 5ost 'obs are in farming% and very few people own their own land. 5any are in poverty because of this.

*overnments are found in the large cities. 6olitical decisions tend to favour the 0core1

Types of development vary between 0top down1 and 0bottom up1? #op Down id +arge scale% e7pensive pro'ects designed to provide 'obs. They hope that benefits will tric&le down to improve development for all. Decision ma&ers loo&ing at a 0big picture1 to identify need or opportunity for e.g. a national energy source or dam. 2ocal people being told about it% but with *ottom Up id Small scale% sustainable local pro'ects funded by "*81s. ,ims to improve the /uality of life for the poorest in society. They hope the 0multiplier effect1 will spread and benefit the whole country. 97perts wor&ing with local communities to identify their needs. *iving local people control to improve their lives

6 Development Dilemmas
no say in whether it will happen or not. 97perts helping to plan it. :se machinery rather than providing 'obs for local people. Conditions can often be attached to loans made 8ften have large negative impacts on the environment 2ocal people are involved in ma&ing decisions :ses appropriate technology o 9asy to use and maintain and often built from local materials so easy to source repairs 97perts assisting with progress

Dams can provide energy and water for the country to develop "ot always suitable for local people. 9.g. can be too hi;tech for populations with low levels of literacy.

8ften low cost ,lthough can improve the lives of people in a small area often has little impact on the national development +elies on charities and funding can fluctuate from year to year

<ey: 6ositive . "egative

,. How might countries develop more sustaina!ly in the future?: Case Study: %ndia
#op Down The "armada +iver .cheme .ocial impacts =>? villages have been drowned forcing >=@%@@@ people from their homes +eligious and historic sites have been submerged The dam will provide people with a good supply of clean water for drin&ing and irrigation 9conomic impacts Aobs will be provided which will increase incomes in the area *ottom Up $iogas in rural )ndia )t results in a smo&e and ash free &itchen. This reduces eye and lung problems within 6 months. omen and children no longer have to spend time collecting firewood. 5any more children are able to go to school% which improves their chances of higher wages later in life.

6eople have more free time as they are not collecting firewood. This means they can earn e7tra income ,cross )ndia% ?m biogas plants have been built creating =@@%@@@ 'obs in rural )ndia.

9nvironmental impacts

The dam will produce hydroelectric power 3a clean renewable sources of energy4

.lurry which remains after fermentation in the biogas plants is richer in nutrients and gives greater yields when added to the soil as a

6 Development Dilemmas
#armers will have to use more fertili-ers to grow crops. This causes pollution and can damage wildlife in rivers Top down approaches are large scale and e7pensive. They will use hi;technology and often do not ta&e into account the opinions of local people. They cause a large amount of damage to the environment and are often unsuccessful in improving people1s lives fertiliser. =BB tonnes of C8= have been saved using the biogas plants. This will help to reduce climate change. $ottom up approaches are often seen as positive. 2ocal people are as&ed their views and have ownership of schemes. The technology is appropriate and cheap. They are often successful in achieving their aims and sustainable. However they can be viewed as only impacting on a small area% not the development of the whole country