Chapter 1
Todaro & Smith (2015), Economic Development
Introducing Economic Development:
A Global Perspective
Lucia Piscitello, Luned 9 marzo, 2015
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1.1 How the Other Half Live
As people throughout the world awake
each morning to face a new day, they
do so under very different
circumstances
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Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
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Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
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1.1 How the Other Half Live
When one is poor, she has no say in public, she feels inferior. She has
no food, so there is famine in her house; no clothing, and no progress
in her family.
A poor woman from Uganda
For a poor person everything is terribleillness, humiliation, shame.
We are cripples; we are afraid of everything; we depend on everyone.
No one needs us. We are like garbage that everyone wants to get rid
of.
A blind woman from Tiraspol, Moldova
Life in the area is so precarious that the youth and every able person
have to migrate to the towns or join the army at the war front in order
to escape the hazards of hunger escalating over here.
Participant in a discussion group in rural Ethiopia
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1.1 How the Other Half Live
When food was in abundance, relatives used to share it. These days of
hunger, however not even relatives would help you by giving you some food.
Young man in Nichimishi, Zambia
We have to line up for hours before it is our turn to draw water.
Mbwadzulu Village (Mangochi), Malawi
[Poverty is] . . . low salaries and lack of jobs. And its also not having
medicine, food, and clothes.
--Discussion group, Brazil
Dont ask me what poverty is because you have met it outside my house.
Look at the house and count the number of holes. Look at the utensils and
the clothes I am wearing. Look at everything and write what you see. What
you see is poverty. Poor man in Kenya
A universal theme reflected in these seven quotes is
that poverty is more than lack of income it is
inherently multidimensional, as is economic
development.
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1.2 Economics and Development
Studies
The Nature of Development Economics
Greater scope than traditional neoclassical economics
and political economy.
Why Study Development Economics? Some
Critical Questions
What is the real meaning of development?
What can be learned from the historical progress of the
now developed countries?
What are economic institutions? Whats their role?
What are the causes of extreme poverty?
...
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1.2 Economics and Development
Studies
The Important Role of Values in
Development Economics
Necessary to recognize from the outset ethical and
normative value premises about what is desiderable
and what is not
Economic and social equality, elimination of poverty,
universal education, rising level of living, , personal
fulfillment all derive from subjective value judgments
about what is good and desirable, and what is not
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Figure 1.1 World Income Distribution
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1.2 Economics and Development
Studies
Economies as Social Systems: The Need to Go
Beyond Simple Economics
Social Systems
Interdependent relationships between economic and noneconomic factors (including values, attitudes, power structure
and traditions)
Success or failure of development policy
Importance of taking account of institutional and structural
variables along with more traditional economic variables
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1.3 What Do We Mean by
Development?
Traditional Economic Measures
Gross National Income (GNI): the total domestic
and foreign output claimed by residents of a
country. It comprises gross domestic product
(GDP) plus factor incomes accruing to residents
from abroad, less the income earned in the
domestic economy accruing to persons abroad.
Income per capita: total gross national income of
a country divided by its total population.
Problems of poverty, discrimination,
unemployment, income distribution were of
secondary importance to getting the growth job
done
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1.3 What Do We Mean by
Development?
The New Economic View of Development
Leads to improvement in wellbeing, more broadly
understood
Amartya Sens Capability Approach
Income and wealth are not the ends but the
instruments
Functionings as an achievement
Capabilities as freedoms enjoyed in terms of
functionings
Well being in terms of being well and having
freedoms of choice
Development and happiness
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Some Key Capabilities
Being able to live long
Being well-nourished
Being healthy
Being literate
Being well-clothed
Being mobile
Being able to take part in the life of the
community
Being happy as a state of being - may be
valued as a functioning
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Figure 1.2 Income and Happiness:
Comparing Countries
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1.3 What Do We Mean by
Development? (contd)
Three Core Values of Development
Sustenance: The Ability to Meet Basic
Needs (food, shelter, health and
protection)
Self-Esteem: To Be a Person
Freedom from Servitude:
To Be Able to Choose
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1.3 What Do We Mean by
Development? (contd)
The Three Objectives of Development
Increase availability of life-sustaining goods
Raise levels of living
Expand range of economic and social choices
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1.4 The Millennium Development
Goals
Millennium Development goals (MDGs)
Eight goals adopted by the United Nations in
2000
Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger
Achieve universal primary education
Promote gender equality and empower women
Reduce child mortality
Improve maternal health
Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria, and other diseases
Ensure environmental sustainability
Develop a global partnership for development
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Table 1.1 Millennium Development
Goals and Targets for 2015
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Table 1.1 Millennium Development Goals and
Targets for 2015 (contd)
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1.5 Conclusions
The importance of Development Economics
Inclusion of non-economic variables in
designing development strategies
Achieving the Millennium Development
Goals
One future-or none at all
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