Various concepts of development

Various concepts of development

For almost every writer a different  definition of development exists

Important to first distinguish between:

a. Development as a state or condition-static

b. Development as a process or course of change- dynamic

Meaning of Development

> Development is not purely an economic phenomenon but rather a multi-dimensional process involving reorganization and reorientation of entire economic AND social system

> Development is process of improving the quality of all human lives with three equally important aspects. 

Three Objectives of Development

1. Raising peoples’ living levels, i.e. incomes and consumption, levels of food, medical services, education through relevant growth processes

2. Creating conditions conducive to the growth of peoples’ self-esteem through the establishment of social, political and economic systems and institutions which promote human dignity and respect

3. Increasing peoples’ freedom to choose by enlarging the range of their choice variables, e.g. varieties of goods and services

Alternative Interpretations of Development

Development as Economic Growth

> Often commodity output as opposed to people is emphasized-measures of growth in GNP.

> Note here the persistence of a dual economy where the export sector contains small number of workers

> But draws technology as opposed to traditional sector where most people work and is dominated by inefficient technology

Development as Modernization

> Emphasizes process of social change which is required to produce economic advancement; examines changes in social, psychological and political processes;

> How to develop wealth oriented behavior and values in individuals; profit seeking rather than subsistence and self sufficiency

> Shift from commodity to human approach with investment in education and skill training

Development as Distributive Justice- view development as improving basic needs

Interest in social justice which has raised three issues:

1.Nature of goods and services provided by governments

2. Matter of access of these public goods to different social classes

3. How burden of development can be shared among these classes

> Target groups include small farmers, landless, urban under-employed and unemployed

View of Development

> Emphasizes Mode of Production - elements and activities necessary to produce and reproduce real, material life

> Capitalist (market economy) mode depends on wage labor whose labor power produces a surplus which is accumulated and appropriated by the employer-result is often class conflict in capitalist societies

Neocolonial Dependencet Model

Outgrowth of Marxist thinking-Dos Santos

> Existence of underdevelopment due to historical evolution of an unequal international capitalist system of rich country-poor country relations

> Sets up center (developed countries) versus periphery (developing countries) contrast

> Attempts to become self-reliant and progressive are covered up by this relationship

> Moreover certain elites in the developing world (e.g landlords, entrepreneurs, merchants) enjoy high incomes, social status and political power and thus effect inequality and conformity and are rewarded

> They serve international power groups such as multi-national firms, assistance agencies (World Bank) and other agents