Cooperative Development Framework and Perspective

LESSON 1:
THE DEVELOPMENT CONCEPTS

What is development?
Development is a process that creates growth, progress, positive change or the addition of physical, economic,
environmental, social and demographic components. The purpose of development is a rise in the level and quality of
life of the population, and the creation or expansion of local regional income and employment opportunities, without
damaging the resources of the environment. Development is visible and useful, not necessarily immediately, and
includes an aspect of quality change and the creation of conditions for a continuation of that change.

Development is a system of interrelated social changes. Development is a process resulting from the integration of a
number of elements especially:

1. Goals – based on existing values

2. Resources – natural as well as human
3. Available technology\forms of socio-political organization

What is Economic Development?

Economic Development – refers to the improvement of the way endowments, grants, gifts and goods and services
are used.

 Economic Development Indicators – Economic indicators are used to assess how economically developed a
country is. They can give some sense of how wealthy a country’s people are and how they actually earn that
wealth.
 Development is Economic Growth: gradual advancement or growth through progressive changes.
 Economic Growth is a phenomenon of market productivity and rise of Gross Domestic Product (GDP). It is
one aspect of the process of economic development.

Characteristics of Economic Growth

 Increases in population
 Accumulation of capital
 Increased productivity

Negative Effects of Economic Growth

 Destruction of the environment
 Increase in the poverty rate

What is Social Development?

Social Development – covers a range of topics, such as, social cognition, peer relationships, social interaction,
attachment formation, emotional development.

 Social change refers to an alteration in the social order of a society. It could refer to the social progress or
sociocultural evolution, or the philosophical idea that society moves forward by dialectical or evolutionary
 means. It may refer to a paradigmatic change in the socio-economic structure, for instance a shift away from
feudalism and towards capitalism.
 Social change also refers to a change in social structure. Social structure includes the nature, social
institutions, social behavior, relationships, community of people and society.
 Social change builds community-based responses that address underlying social problems on an individual,
institutional, community, national and/or even at international level. It involves a collective action of
individuals who are closest to the social problems to develop solutions that address social issues.
 Social change can change attitudes, behaviors, laws, policies and institution to better reflect values of
inclusion, fairness, diversity, and opportunity. It is the transformation of culture and social institutions over
time.

o Drivers of Social change