Development
Studies
[2]
MODULE 1: MEASURING
DEVELOPMENT
MATER SPEI COLLEGE
MEASURING DEVELOPMENT/ INDICATORS OF Indicator Economic Development
DEVELOPMENT Developed Developing
GNP High Low
GDP high Low
GNP per capita High low
Energy consumption High low
Employment High low
Number of people in Less people in agriculture More people in agriculture
Agriculture
Social Development
Indicator Developed Developing
Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) Low High
Life expectancy High Low
Death rate Low High
Birth rate Low High
Doctor-patient ratio Low High
Teacher-student ratio Low High
Number of people per Low High
telephone
Number of people per tap Low: Many houses with High: few houses with water
water
Dependency ratio Low High
Literacy rate High Low
Adult literacy rate High Low
Calorie intake High Low
Daily food intake High Low
Indicator
Political Development
Developed Developing
Democracy
Peace Civil wars/civil strife
Elections More Few
Women in managerial positions More Few
Human rights
Fig.1 Freedom
Number of wrongful imprisonment
Number of political parties in a country
Percentage of people who vote during elections
Fig.2
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Mater Spei College Development Studies Notes MODULE 1: Investigating & measuring development
SOCIAL INDICATORS ECONOMIC POLITICAL - Infant mortality rate is caused by pandemic diseases such HIV/AIDS because
INDICATORS INDICATORS some of the babies are born with the virus.
Infant Mortality Rate Gross National Product Number of political
per Capita parties in a country - The reason why developing countries have high infant mortality rate is Poor
sanitation / unhygienic conditions
Life expectancy Gross Domestic Product Percentage of people who
vote during elections - Developing countries have high infant mortality rate because of poor care /
Adult literacy rate Gross National Product Freedom of expression parent negligence
Number of people per Energy Consumption per Percentage of women in 2. LIFE EXPECTANCY
doctor Capita managerial positions
What is life expectancy?
Number of pupils per Number of people Number of wrongful
teacher employed in agriculture imprisonment - Life expectancy is the average number of years a person is likely to live in a
Birth rate Employment rate Human rights country.
Death rate Manufacturing production Justice What is life expectancy at birth?
- Life expectancy is the average number of years a new born baby is likely to
live in a country.
Fig.3
SOCIAL INDICATORS OF DEVELOPMENT
THE REASONS WHY LESS DEVELOPED/ DEVELOPING /THIRD
1. INFANT MORTALITY RATE
WORLD COUNTRIES HAVE HIGHER INFANT MORTALITY RATE
What is infant mortality rate?
- The reason why developing countries have high infant mortality rate is that of
shortage of health facilities where health care can be provided by doctors and
- Infant mortality rate number of babies who die before their first birthday per
nurses.
thousand per year in a country.
- High infant mortality rate in developing countries is caused by widespread of
- Infant mortality rate is the percentage of babies who die before their first
birthday in a country diseases and epidemics, for example, cholera, malaria and HIV/AIDS.
- Developing countries have high infant mortality rate because of poor nutrition
THE REASONS WHY DEVELOPING COUNTRIES HAVE A HIGH
which may lead to kwarshikor due to high unemployment rate or poor farming
INFANT MORTALITY RATE
methods.
- Developing countries have high doctor patient ratio/ inadequate access to
health care because there are few trained doctors and nurses. - High infant mortality rate in developing countries is caused by poor sanitation
and hygiene.
- There is poor nutrition in developing countries leading to such health
- Infant mortality rate is high in developing countries because of poverty which
conditions as kwashiorkor
lead to low living standard
- In developing infant mortality rate is caused by teenage pregnancy which may
lead to delivery complications.
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Mater Spei College Development Studies Notes MODULE 1: Investigating & measuring development
THE REASONS WHY DEVELOPED COUNTRIES HAVE LOWER 3. CALORIE INTAKE
INFANT MORTALITY RATE
What is calorie intake?
- Developed countries have adequate health facilities where health care is - Calorie intake is the energy value of the food eaten in a country.
provided by trained doctors and nurses.
THE REASONS FOR LOW CALORIE INTAKE IN DEVELOPING
- Low infant mortality rate in developed countries is caused by immunisation COUNTRIES
programmes that help to eradicate child killer diseases, for example, cholera,
malaria and polio. - The reason for low calorie intake in developing countries is that there is
high unemployment so less money to buy food
- Developed countries have low infant mortality rate because of adequate and
balanced nutrition. - There is lack of purchasable food in some areas
- Low infant mortality rate in developed countries is caused by good sanitation - Developing countries have quality and quantity food shortage because of
and hygiene. drought
- Infant mortality rate is low in developing countries because of high living - The high illiteracy rate in developing countries lead to inability to
standard. determine food quality
THE REASONS WHY WORLD LIFE EXPECTANCY IS RISING - Developing countries have low calorie intake because of low productivity
in agriculture.
- The life expectancy is rising in the world because cleaner water supplies to - Low calorie intake in developing countries is caused by drought and
prevent waterborne diseases such as cholera. famines.
- The governments of the world provide better sanitation to their citizens to - Developing countries have low calorie intake due to wars and political
improve hygiene. instability.
- The world life expectancy is rising due to provision better health care whereby THE REASONS FOR HIGH CALORIE INTAKE IN DEVELOPED
there is enough trained medical personnel such as doctors and nurses. COUNTRIES
- Countries provide primary health care to citizens which focuses on the - Developed countries have high calorie intake because of high income
prevention of diseases and giving assistance to the sick, for example, provision because most of the people are employed.
of clean water, health education and immunisation programme.
- High calorie intake in developed countries is caused by surplus food
production.
- In the world some of the countries provide citizens with better nutrition for
example, in Botswana children are given supplementary feeding such as - Developed countries have high calorie intake due to high levels of
Tsabana. education.
- Calorie intake is high in developed countries because of the use of
advanced technology to produce food.
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Mater Spei College Development Studies Notes MODULE 1: Investigating & measuring development
4. LITERACY RATE THE REASONS FOR THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN MALE AND
FEMALE LITERACY RATES
Define literacy rate
- The reason for the difference between male and female literacy rate is that
- The percentage of the population / average number of people who are able girls are denied the chance to go to school and are expected to stay home
to read and write in a country. and help their mothers
What is the importance of literacy to development? - The girls drop out of school because they marry or get pregnant which
lead to the difference between male and female literacy rate.
- The importance of literacy to development is that when people are able to
read and write they are able to learn / acquire new skills easily - The girls are neglected for cultural/traditional reasons such as early
marriages.
- They can better participate in decision making and national campaigns e.g.
elections, immunisation programmes - It is believed a girl child has a smaller brain than their male counterpart
(and this makes them less intelligent) and so sending them to school is a
- They can read and understand environmental issues/conservation better waste of time and money
- Reduces dependency on those who are literate and promotes privacy e.g. THE NEGATIVE EFFECTS LOW SCHOOL ENROLMENT CAN HAVE ON
reading own letters or mail A COUNTRY’S DEVELOPMENT
- Literate mothers can access information on childcare leading to better - The negative effect of low school enrolment can have on a country’s
hygiene and lower IMR development is low literacy rate
- Improved nutrition when the mother is literate - The low school enrolment can have negative effect on a country’s
development because it can lead to fewer skilled personnel
- They can easily find out and fill themselves application forms e.g. at the
post office, credit facilities forms and can even write application letters for - Increase the gap between the educated rich & the uneducated poor
jobs etc.
- The negative effect of low school enrolment may lead to fewer people will
5. ADULT LITERACY RATE be involved in decision making
Define adult literacy rate - Low school enrolment may lead to high birth rates because of lack of
knowledge on how to use contraceptives.
- Adult literacy rate is the percentage of people or number of people 18
years and above who can read and write in a country. - The negative effect of low school enrolment on country’s development
leads to High Infant Mortality Rate or death rates because of lack of
Male literacy rate is higher in most countries than female literacy knowledge on how to take care of their babies.
rate
Fig.4
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Mater Spei College Development Studies Notes MODULE 1: Investigating & measuring development
THE CHALLENGES FACED BY DEVELOPING COUNTRIES IN TRYING 6. BIRTH RATE/ POPULATION GROWTH RATE
TO IMPROVE THEIR CITIZENS’ EDUCATION
What is birth rate / Population growth rate?
- The challenge faced by developing countries in trying to improve their
citizen’s education is that they have shortage of funds which lead to Birth rate is the number of babies per 1000 born in a year in a country.
inadequate educational facilities.
Population growth rate is the speed at which the population grows in a year,
- The challenges faced by developing countries in trying to improve their and it is expressed in percentages in a country.
citizens’ education is shortage of trained personnel, for example, teachers.
DEVELOPING COUNTRIES HAVE HIGH BIRTH AND POPULATION
- Developing countries inaccessible educational facilities because of GROWTH RATES BECAUSE OF:
shortage of funds, for example, students have to walk long distances to
access educational facilities. - Large family seen as a symbol of social prestige, for example, proves ones
- Uncooperative, unruly & bad behaved students virility.
- Corruption and bribery
- Ignorance of the use of family planning and contraceptives.
- Developing countries have high unemployment rate which makes parents
to be unable to pay school fees. - Low levels of education.
THE CAUSES OF HIGH SCHOOL DROPOUT RATES IN DEVELOPING
COUNTRIES - Children are regarded as a source of social security
- The cause of high school dropout rates in developing countries due to - Early marriages.
teenage pregnancy.
- Polygamy
- Developing countries have high school dropout rates because domestic
responsibilities e.g. looking after livestock - Desires for sons if girls are born first to continue family name because
- Poverty causes high school dropout rates in developing countries because girls get married and change the surname.
of inability to pay school fees by some parents
DEVELOPED COUNTRIES HAVE LOWER BIRTH AND
- In developing countries, there is high school dropout rates because of early POPULATION GROWTH RATE BECAUSE OF:
marriage.
- Widespread of use of contraceptives and also family planning is done.
- Family disputes / divorce / lack of parental guidance
- High levels of education.
- High school dropout rates in developing countries is caused by diseases,
for example, HIV/AIDS, TB, etc. / accidents leading to disability - Social security as they have pension schemes in place.
- Developing countries have high school dropout because of civil wars e.g. - High standards of living that make a large family expensive to have.
Ethiopia/Eritrea, Sudan etc.
- Banning of child labour.
- High school dropout in developing countries is caused by long distance
to educational facilities or school
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Mater Spei College Development Studies Notes MODULE 1: Investigating & measuring development
EXPLAIN HOW SOCIAL INDICATORS ARE USED TO - The data on GNP per capita is available from the World Bank.
MEASURE DEVELOPMENT
- GNP per capita highlights international wealth differences.
- When infant mortality rate is low it means that development is high and
when infant mortality rate is high, it means that development is low. - GNP per capita is better than raw GNP measurement, which ignores the size of
the population, or GDP, which does not include investments abroad.
- High literacy rate means that a country is developed whereas low literacy
rate means that a country is less developed or developing. - GNP per capita helps to estimate productivity capacity of country’s economy.
- High Birth Rate means that a country is less developed and a low Birth THE DISADVANTAGES OF GNP PER CAPITA
Rate means that a country is developed. The reasons why GNP per capita is not a good measure of development
- When there is a high doctor-patient ratio it means that the country is less - The reason why GNP per capita is not a good measure of development is that
developed and a low doctor-patient ratio means that the country is few people might own most of the land, farms, shops, factories, etc.
developed. leaving the majority very poor i.e. it ignores the difference between the rich
and the poor within the country
- High life expectancy shows that the country is developed and a low life
expectancy shows that the country is less developed. - GNP per capita ignores the informal sector and illicit trades; economists
only count goods and services marketed openly and recorded by government.
- High calorie intake shows that a country is developed whereas a low
calorie intake shows that a country is less developed. - The production/income statistics may be inaccurate / concealing of actual
earnings to avert tax or Business officials hiding information
ECONOMIC INDICATORS OF DEVELOPMENT
- The population statistics may be inaccurate and/or outdated
1. GROSS NATIONAL PRODUCT
- There is official biasness of statistics to score a political mileage
Define Gross National Product - GNP per capita assumes that everyone is working and benefiting from the
economy and ignores the quality of life, social & environmental consequences
- Gross National Product is the total value of goods and services that a country of wealth/ignores happiness
produces in one year including earnings from abroad or outside the country.
THE REASONS WHY COUNTRIES OF THE NORTH/DEVELOPED
Define GNP per capita COUNTRIES HAVE A HIGHER GNP THAN THOSE OF THE
SOUTH/DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
- GNP per capita is the proportion / share of a country’s wealth each individual
is entitled to if the country’s money is shared equally / evenly amongst the - The countries of the North have mass production due to use of complex and
population many industries whereas countries of the South have low production because
of use of simple technology and few industries.
- GNP per capita is the total money value of goods and services produced
within and outside the country divided by the total population - Countries of the North export a lot of high value / expensive goods & services
while countries of the South export low value goods and services.
THE ADVANTAGES OF GNP PER CAPITA
- The reason why countries of the North have high GNP is because they price
- GNP per capita is a standard measure, therefore, allows easy comparison the commodities themselves while the prices of raw materials from the
between countries and years. countries of the South are determined by the North.
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Mater Spei College Development Studies Notes MODULE 1: Investigating & measuring development
- The countries of the North have favourable terms of trade whereas countries of
the South have unfavourable conditions of trade because are determined by the POLITICAL INDICATORS OF DEVELOPMENT
countries of the North.
HUMAN RIGHTS: These are things or conditions that every person is entitled to
- Most Multi-National Companies originate from countries of the North and have and they are part of the constitution of every country.
operate in other countries which lead profit repatriation
Respect for human rights marks a high level of development for any country.
- Countries of the North earn a lot of interest from loans to the developing Conditions that fulfil human rights include the following:
countries. - Regular free and fair elections
- Freedom of speech or opinion
- Right to education
2. ENERGY USE/ ENERGY CONSUMPTION - Freedom of association and worship
- Impartial/ fair justice
Define Energy use/ Energy consumption - Law and order
- Peace and security
Energy consumption is the average amount of kilograms of oil, gas, electricity or - Equal opportunities in all spheres of life.
wood that utilized by each person in a country.
However if these conditions are not met, there is bound to be discrimination
- Developed countries use large quantities of energy while Developing countries
use small quantities.
- Developed countries use a lot of energy because they have a lot of industries,
machines, vehicles and gadgets that use electricity and have large urban areas.
- Developing countries use smaller quantities of energy because there have very
few industries, vehicles and machines. Most work is done manually.
3. EMPLOYMENT
In developed countries there are a lot of employment opportunities in:
- Large industrial sector
- Large commercial service sector
- Quarternary sector
In developing countries employment is very low because of
- Small industrial sector
- Small commercial sector
- Dependence on subsistence agriculture.
4. TRADE
Developed countries are dependent on exporting manufactured or finished
products.
Developing countries are dependent on exports of raw materials.
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Mater Spei College Development Studies Notes MODULE 1: Investigating & measuring development
Check your progress
14. Define Gross National Product
Section A 15. Give three reasons why GNP per capita is not a good measure of
development.
1. What is life expectancy?
16. Define GNP per capita
2. What is life expectancy at birth?
17. Give three reasons why Countries of the North have a higher GNP
3. Describe any three reasons why world life expectancy is rising than those of the South
4. What is calorie intake? 18. What is infant mortality rate?
5. Give three reasons for low calorie intake in developing countries. 19. Give three reasons why developing countries have a high infant mortality
rate
6. Define literacy rate
Section B
7. Describe three importance of literacy to development
1. Study Fig 1, which shows population statistics for selected African
countries and answer question 1(a)
8. Define adult literacy rate
Male literacy rate is higher in most countries than female literacy
rate
9. Suggest three reasons for the difference between male and female
literacy rates
The girl child school enrolment is lower in African countries.
10. Give three reasons for the low enrolment of girls in African
countries
11. Give any three negative effects low school enrolment can have on Fig1
a country’s development (a) (i) Describe the causes of high infant mortality rate in developing countries.
12. Describe three challenges faced by developing countries in trying (ii) Describe the ways in which the government is trying to reduce the infant
to improve their citizens’ education mortality rate in Botswana.
13. Describe three causes of high school dropout rates in developing
countries?
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Mater Spei College Development Studies Notes MODULE 1: Investigating & measuring development
3.Fig. 3 shows a list of countries and their indicators of development. Use it to
2. Study Fig. 2 which shows some indicators to measure development. answer question 1(a)
Fig.3
(a)(i) Using Fig. 3 only, describe three economic characteristics of developed
countries.
(ii) Explain why there are differences in the levels of development between
developed and developing countries.
Fig.2
(a)(i) Explain how each indicator shown in Fig.1 is used to measure development.
(ii) State the disadvantage of using GNP per capita to measure development.
(b)(i) Explain how any three political indicators can be used to measure
development.
(ii) Explain why political development is difficult to measure.
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Mater Spei College Development Studies Notes MODULE 1: Investigating & measuring development
